Chapter 110 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

 

AN ACT

 

SB 342

 

Relating to youth offenders; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 179.473, 179.475, 179.477 and 179.478.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

      SECTION 1. As used in ORS 179.473 to 179.478, unless the context requires otherwise:

      (1) "Youth correction facility" has the meaning given that term in ORS 420.005.

      (2) "Youth offender" has the meaning given that term in ORS 419A.004.

      SECTION 2. ORS 179.473 is amended to read:

      179.473. (1) Whenever the health and welfare of the person and the efficient administration of the institution requires the transfer of an inmate of a Department of Corrections institution or a [student of MacLaren School or Hillcrest School] youth offender in a youth correction facility to another institution:

      (a) The Department of Corrections or the Oregon Youth Authority, with the consent of the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division, may transfer a person at any institution under its jurisdiction to an institution for the mentally ill or mentally retarded, or, with the consent of the Oregon Health Sciences University, to the Oregon Health Sciences University.

      (b) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the Department of Corrections or the Oregon Youth Authority may make a transfer of a person from any institution under the jurisdiction of the department or authority to any other institution under the jurisdiction of the department or authority.

      (2) A [student of] youth offender in a youth correction facility may not be transferred to a Department of Corrections institution under subsection (1) of this section. A [student of] youth offender in a youth correction facility who has been transferred to another institution may not be transferred from such other institution to a Department of Corrections institution.

      SECTION 3. ORS 179.475 is amended to read:

      179.475. (1) An inmate of a Department of Corrections institution or a [student of MacLaren School or Hillcrest School] youth offender in a youth correction facility may be transferred to a state mental hospital listed in ORS 426.010, subject to rules of the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division, for up to 15 days for evaluation or treatment at the request of the superintendent of the referring institution. The inmate may remain in the state mental hospital for up to the duration of the sentence or the [student] youth offender may remain in the state mental hospital for up to the duration of the commitment to the youth correction facility if:

      (a) The superintendent of the state mental hospital recommends retention of the inmate or [student] youth offender for treatment of a mental or emotional disturbance or alcohol or drug problem;

      (b) The inmate or [student] youth offender gives informed consent to the transfer; and

      (c) The superintendent of the referring Department of Corrections institution or youth correction facility approves the proposed treatment plan and continued transfer.

      (2) An inmate or [student] youth offender who has been transferred to a state mental hospital under this section may be transferred back to the referring institution if, in the opinion of the hospital superintendent, the inmate or [student] youth offender fails to meet the conditions of the treatment plan or if the inmate or [student] youth offender has received maximum benefit from hospitalization.

      (3) If an inmate who demonstrates satisfactory progress while in a state mental hospital becomes eligible for parole, the inmate may be considered for parole by the State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision without prior transfer back to the referring Department of Corrections institution. If it is in the best interest of the inmate and society, the inmate may be placed from the hospital to a local correctional or mental health program.

      (4) A [student] youth offender who demonstrates satisfactory progress while in a state mental hospital and is eligible for release from the youth correction facility may, with the approval of the youth correction facility, be placed in the community without prior return to the referring youth correction facility.

      SECTION 4. ORS 179.477 is amended to read:

      179.477. (1) If, in the opinion of the superintendent of the state mental hospital, an inmate or [student] youth offender transferred to the state mental hospital under ORS 179.475 (1) is mentally ill, as defined in ORS 426.005, and would benefit from the program of the state mental hospital, but the inmate or [student] youth offender is unable or unwilling to authorize continued treatment in the state mental hospital, the superintendent may petition the court in the county where the hospital is located for a commitment hearing pursuant to ORS 426.070. The hospital shall provide the court an investigation report comparable to that required under ORS 426.070. Hospital staff shall not serve as examiners of this person for the court under ORS 426.110. The inmate or [student] youth offender shall have the same rights as an allegedly mentally ill person under ORS 426.070 to 426.170. If the person is determined not to be mentally ill, the inmate or [student] youth offender shall be returned to the referring institution forthwith. If the inmate or [student] youth offender is determined to be mentally ill by clear and convincing evidence, the person shall be committed to the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division for up to 180 days, with continued commitment subject to the provisions of ORS 426.301 to 426.307. Any time spent on commitment under ORS 426.130 or 426.307 or in a state mental hospital shall be applied against the duration of the sentence to the custody of the Department of Corrections or the commitment to a youth correction facility. The Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division shall receive approval of the Department of Corrections and State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision prior to placing an inmate on trial visit under ORS 426.273 and 426.275. The Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division shall receive approval of the youth correction facility prior to placing a [student] youth offender on trial visit under ORS 426.273 and 426.275.

      (2) If, at any time, the inmate or [student] youth offender is determined by the hospital superintendent or by the court pursuant to ORS 426.307 to no longer be mentally ill, the person shall be promptly returned to the referring institution and the commitment for mental illness terminated.

      SECTION 5. ORS 179.478 is amended to read:

      179.478. (1) If the person, a relative, guardian or friend, or institution staff have probable cause to believe that an inmate or [student] youth offender is mentally retarded to such a degree that the inmate or [student] youth offender cannot adjust to or benefit from the Department of Corrections institution or youth correction facility, the superintendent of the institution shall request that a diagnostic assessment be performed by the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division or its designee. If there is probable cause to believe that the inmate or [student] youth offender is mentally retarded and otherwise eligible for admission to a state hospital and training center for the mentally retarded pursuant to ORS 427.010 and other applicable statutes and rules of the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division, the person shall be entitled to a commitment hearing.

      (2) If the inmate or [student] youth offender is by clear and convincing evidence determined by the court to be mentally retarded, the person shall be committed and transferred to a hospital and training center designated by the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division as soon as space in an appropriate unit is available, and any sentence to a Department of Corrections institution or commitment to the youth correction facility shall be terminated. The State Office for Services to Children and Families may retain general wardship of the [student] youth offender, as it would for other minors placed in its custody.

 

Approved by the Governor April 23, 1999

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State April 23, 1999

 

Effective date October 23, 1999

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