Subdivision 1. Establishment; membership. (a) The State Competency Restoration Board is established in the judicial branch. The board is not subject to the administrative control of the judiciary. The board shall consist of seven members, including:
(1) three members appointed by the supreme court, at least one of whom must be a defense attorney, one a county attorney, and one public member; and
(2) four members appointed by the governor, at least one of whom must be a mental health professional with experience in competency restoration.
(b) The appointing authorities may not appoint an active judge to be a member of the board, but may appoint a retired judge.
(c) All members must demonstrate an interest in maintaining a high quality, independent forensic navigator program and a thorough process for certification of competency restoration programs. Members shall be familiar with the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, particularly rule 20; chapter 253B; and sections 611.40 to 611.59. Following the initial terms of appointment, at least one member appointed by the supreme court must have previous experience working as a forensic navigator. At least three members of the board shall live outside the First, Second, Fourth, and Tenth Judicial Districts. The terms, compensation, and removal of members shall be as provided in section 15.0575. The members shall elect the chair from among the membership for a term of two years.
Subd. 2. Duties and responsibilities. (a) The board shall create and administer a statewide, independent competency restoration system that certifies competency restoration programs and uses forensic navigators to promote prevention and diversion of people with mental illnesses and cognitive impairments from entering the legal system, support defendants with mental illness and cognitive impairments, support defendants in the competency process, and assist courts and partners in coordinating competency restoration services.
(b) The board shall:
(1) approve and recommend to the legislature a budget for the board and the forensic navigator program;
(2) establish procedures for distribution of funding under this section to the forensic navigator program;
(3) establish forensic navigator standards, administrative policies, procedures, and rules consistent with statute, rules of court, and laws that affect a forensic navigator's work;
(4) establish certification requirements for competency restoration programs; and
(5) carry out the programs under sections 611.57, 611.58, and 611.59.
(c) The board may:
(1) adopt standards, policies, or procedures necessary to ensure quality assistance for defendants found incompetent to stand trial and charged with a felony, gross misdemeanor, or targeted misdemeanor, or for defendants found incompetent to stand trial who have recurring incidents;
(2) establish district forensic navigator offices as provided in subdivision 4; and
(3) propose statutory changes to the legislature and rule changes to the supreme court that would facilitate the effective operation of the forensic navigator program.
Subd. 3. Administrator. The board shall appoint a program administrator who serves at the pleasure of the board. The program administrator shall attend all meetings of the board and the Certification Advisory Committee, but may not vote, and shall:
(1) carry out all administrative functions necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the board and the program, including but not limited to hiring, supervising, and disciplining program staff and forensic navigators;
(2) implement, as necessary, resolutions, standards, rules, regulations, and policies of the board;
(3) keep the board fully advised as to its financial condition, and prepare and submit to the board the annual program and budget and other financial information as requested by the board;
(4) recommend to the board the adoption of rules and regulations necessary for the efficient operation of the board and the program; and
(5) perform other duties prescribed by the board.
Subd. 4. District offices. The board may establish district forensic navigator offices in counties, judicial districts, or other areas where the number of defendants receiving competency restoration services requires more than one full-time forensic navigator and establishment of an office is fiscally responsible and in the best interest of defendants found to be incompetent.
Subd. 5. Administration. The board may contract with the Office of State Court Administrator for administrative support services for the fiscal years following fiscal year 2022.
Subd. 6. Fees and costs; civil actions on contested case. Sections 15.039 and 15.471 to 15.474 apply to the State Competency Restoration Board.
Subd. 7. Access to records. Access to records of the board is subject to the Rules of Public Access for Records of the Judicial Branch. The board may propose amendments for supreme court consideration.
2022 c 99 art 1 s 39
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 609 - 624 — Crimes; Expungement; Victims
Chapter 611 — Rights Of Accused
Section 611.01 — Ground Of Arrest, Knowledge.
Section 611.02 — Presumption Of Innocence; Conviction Of Lowest Degree, When.
Section 611.025 — Presumption Of Responsibility.
Section 611.026 — Criminal Responsibility Of Persons With A Mental Illness Or Cognitive Impairment.
Section 611.027 — Disposition Of Child Of Parent Arrested.
Section 611.033 — Copy Of Confession Or Admission.
Section 611.05 — Continuance; Effect; Bail.
Section 611.06 — Defendant Entitled To Blank Subpoenas.
Section 611.11 — No Presumption From Failure To Testify.
Section 611.14 — Right To Representation By Public Defender.
Section 611.15 — Notification Of Right To Representation.
Section 611.16 — Request For Appointment Of Public Defender.
Section 611.18 — Appointment Of Public Defender.
Section 611.19 — Waiver Of Appointment Of Counsel.
Section 611.20 — Subsequent Ability To Pay Counsel.
Section 611.21 — Services Other Than Counsel.
Section 611.215 — State Board Of Public Defense Created.
Section 611.216 — Criminal And Juvenile Defense Grants.
Section 611.23 — Office Of State Public Defender; Appointment; Salary.
Section 611.24 — Chief Appellate Public Defender; Organization Of Office; Assistants.
Section 611.25 — Powers; Duties; Limitations.
Section 611.26 — District Public Defenders.
Section 611.262 — Representation Before Appointment.
Section 611.263 — Employer; Ramsey, Hennepin Defenders.
Section 611.27 — Offices Of District Public Defender; Financing; Representation.
Section 611.271 — Copies Of Documents; Fees.
Section 611.272 — Access To Government Data.
Section 611.273 — Surplus Property.
Section 611.30 — Right To Interpreter, State Policy.
Section 611.31 — Disabled Person.
Section 611.32 — Proceedings Where Interpreter Appointed.
Section 611.33 — Qualified Interpreter.
Section 611.34 — Applicability To All Courts.
Section 611.35 — Reimbursement Of Appointed Counsel.
Section 611.362 — Claim For Compensation Based On Exoneration.
Section 611.363 — Compensation Panel.
Section 611.364 — Prehearing Settlements And Hearing.
Section 611.366 — Judicial Review.
Section 611.367 — Compensating Exonerated Persons; Appropriations Process.
Section 611.368 — Short Title.
Section 611.40 — Applicability.
Section 611.42 — Competency Motion Procedures.
Section 611.43 — Competency Examination And Report.
Section 611.44 — Contested Hearing Procedures.
Section 611.45 — Competency Findings.
Section 611.46 — Incompetent To Stand Trial And Continuing Supervision.
Section 611.47 — Administration Of Medication.
Section 611.48 — Review Hearings.
Section 611.49 — Likelihood To Attain Competency.
Section 611.50 — Defendant's Participation And Conduct Of Hearings.
Section 611.51 — Credit For Confinement.
Section 611.55 — Forensic Navigator Services.
Section 611.56 — State Competency Restoration Board.
Section 611.57 — Certification Advisory Committee.
Section 611.58 — Competency Restoration Curriculum And Certification.