Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity.
A criminal defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) if a judge or jury finds that, at the time of the commission of the offense, and as a result of a mental disease or defect, the defendant was either unable to perceive the nature or the quality of the act charged or was unable to tell right from wrong with reference to the particular act charged.

Civil Commitment Following Acquittal By Reason of Insanity. 
A defendant who is found NGRI may be committed to a state hospital if a judge or jury finds that the defendant presents a substantial danger to other persons or a substantial danger of committing criminal acts jeopardizing public safety or security, and there is no less restrictive treatment than detention in a state hospital.  The term of commitment may not exceed the maximum sentence for the offense for which the defendant was acquitted by reason of insanity.  If the court finds the person is not a substantial danger to other persons and does not pose a substantial likelihood of committing criminal acts jeopardizing public safety, but that the person is in need of control by the court or other persons or institutions, the court must direct the person's conditional release.

Conditional Release.
A person found NGRI may not be released from the state hospital before the expiration of the person's term of commitment unless ordered by the superior court in the county in which the person was committed.  A person may petition for conditional release once every six months.  The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) must submit this petition to the court with its recommendation concerning the release.  The Department may on its own initiate a recommendation to the court that a person be conditionally released.  The Department's recommendation must include the terms and conditions under which the Department believes the person can be conditionally released.  

The court must schedule a hearing within 30 days of receipt of the application or recommendation for conditional release.  The court must determine whether the person may be released conditionally to less restrictive alternative (LRA) treatment under supervision of a multidisciplinary transition team and conditions ordered by the court without substantial danger to other persons or substantial likelihood of committing criminal acts jeopardizing public safety or security.  The court may reject the recommendation of the Department only based on substantial evidence.

Limited Conditional Release.  
The Department or a person found NGRI may make a motion for limited conditional release if there is insufficient evidence that the person may be conditionally released to LRA treatment, but the person would benefit from an opportunity to exercise increased privileges while remaining under the custody and supervision of the Department without substantial danger to other persons or substantial likelihood of committing criminal acts jeopardizing public safety or security.

Conditional Release to Less Restrictive Alternative Treatment.
An order for conditional release of a person to less restrictive alternative (LRA) treatment must include supervision by a multidisciplinary transition team that includes a specially trained community corrections officer, a Department representative, and if behavioral health treatment is required, a representative of the community behavioral health agency providing LRA treatment.  The role of the transition team is to facilitate the person's success by monitoring the person's progress in treatment and compliance with court-ordered conditions, and to problem solve extra support the person may need.  A conditional release order must also include a requirement that the person comply with conditions of supervision that include:  reporting to a transition team member, remaining within prescribed geographical boundaries, and notifying the transition team before making any change in employment or address. 

Less restrictive alternative treatment under a conditional release order must include the following minimum services and may include other specified services:

• assignment of a care coordinator;
• an intake evaluation with the provider of LRA treatment;
• a psychiatric evaluation and/or substance use disorder evaluation;
• a schedule of regular contacts with the treatment provider;
• a transition plan addressing access to continued services at the expiration of the order;
• an individual crisis plan;
• consultation about the formation of a mental health advance directive;
• appointment of a transition team; and
• notification to the care coordinator and the transition team when the person does not substantially comply with treatment requirements.  

The care coordinator is a representative from the Department who coordinates activities with the person's transition team that are necessary for enforcement and continuation of the conditional release order.  The care coordinator is responsible for coordinating service activities with other agencies and establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the individual on a continuing basis.

The care coordinator must submit an individualized plan for the person's treatment services to the court.  The initial plan must be submitted as soon as possible after the intake evaluation and a revised plan must be submitted any time there is a modification that removes or adds a service to the treatment plan.

When a conditionally released person is required to report to a physician, community corrections officer, or medical or mental health practitioner, the physician, officer, or practitioner must submit a periodic report stating whether the person is adhering to terms and conditions and detailing any criminal arrests or charges and any significant change in the person's mental health condition or other circumstances.  The report must be submitted to the court, the Department, the institution from which the person was released, and the county prosecutor.

Public Safety Review Panel.
A Public Safety Review Panel (Panel) was established in 2010 to independently review and assess the Department's proposals for release or conditional release, furlough, or temporary leave for NGRI cases.  The Panel provides written determinations of the public safety risk presented by any release or conditional release recommendation and may offer alternative recommendations.  The Panel's recommendations are submitted to the court with the recommendations of the Department and are provided to the prosecutor and counsel for the committed person.

The bill as amended makes the following changes:

• removes the provision requiring a court to consider the recommendations of the community corrections officer and the Public Safety Review Panel before ordering conditional release to an LRA, and instead provides that the DOC may provide information to the Department as to proposed terms and conditions for cases considered for unescorted access to the community or conditional release to an LRA and for which they have court-ordered supervision;
• removes language providing that a facility's recommendation for partial conditional release that allows unsupervised community access must be informed by advisement of a community corrections officer, and that a person on partial conditional release must be under the continued supervision of the Department;
• provides that LRA treatment under a conditional release order must "address" specified minimum services, rather than "include" the specified minimum services;
• clarifies that reporting requirements apply only with respect to persons conditionally released to an LRA; and
• replaces a reference to "state hospital" with a Department institution or facility designated to provide treatment for persons acquitted by reason of insanity.