Sexually Violent Predators Act

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-40(B) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF PAROLE OR RELEASE, TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR SUPERVISED REENTRY FOR A PERSON CONVICTED OF A SEXUALLY VIOLENT OFFENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-50 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, APPOINTMENTS, THE REVIEW OF RECORDS, AND THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, TO PROVIDE FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON SATISFIES THE DEFINITION OF A SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR, TO PROVIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM; TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-80(D) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO TAKING A PERSON INTO CUSTODY, HEARINGS, AND EVALUATIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EVALUATION BY A COURT-APPOINTED QUALIFIED EVALUATOR WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD, TO PROVIDE FOR AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION BY AN INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED EVALUATOR WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXTENSION IN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES; TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-90(B) AND (C) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO A TRIER OF FACT, THE CONTINUATION OF A TRIAL, THE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, THE ACCESS OF EXAMINERS TO A PERSON, AND THE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES, TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN CASES SHALL BE GIVEN PRIORITY STATUS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR COUNSEL AND THE PAYMENT AND COSTS FOR AN INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED EVALUATOR FOR AN INDIGENT PERSON; TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-100(B) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO PERSONS INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, TO PROVIDE THAT A COURT SHALL CONDUCT A NON-JURY HEARING FOR A PERSON CHARGED WITH A SEXUALLY VIOLENT OFFENSE WHO HAS BEEN FOUND INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, WHO IS ABOUT TO BE RELEASED, AND WHOSE COMMITMENT IS SOUGHT; TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-110 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE PERIODIC MENTAL EXAMINATION OF COMMITTED PERSONS, REPORTS, PETITIONS FOR RELEASE, HEARINGS, AND TRIALS TO CONSIDER RELEASE, TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EVALUATION BY A DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH-DESIGNATED QUALIFIED EVALUATOR WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD AND UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PERIODIC REVIEW HEARINGS AND THE PRESENCE OF THE RESIDENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH-DESIGNATED QUALIFIED EVALUATOR AT HEARINGS; TO AMEND CHAPTER 48, TITLE 44 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR ACT, BY ADDING SECTION 44-48-115, TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE COMMITMENT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CONDITIONS THEREOF; TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-120(B) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO HEARINGS ORDERED BY A COURT, EXAMINATION BY A QUALIFIED EXPERT, AND THE BURDEN OF PROOF, TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRESENCE OF A DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH-DESIGNATED QUALIFIED EVALUATOR AT A HEARING OR TRIAL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT MAY SEEK ANOTHER EVALUATION AT HIS OWN EXPENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 44-48-150 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO EVIDENTIARY RECORDS AND A COURT ORDER TO OPEN SEALED RECORDS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RELEASE OF RECORDS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND COUNSEL OF RECORD; TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-32(C) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO REENTRY SUPERVISION AND REVOCATION, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN INMATES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUPERVISED RE-ENTRY UNTIL THE RESOLUTION OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.