(a) For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Dangerousness to self or others” shall include, but not be limited to, a finding of incompetence to stand trial pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1367) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Penal Code when the defendant has been charged with murder, mayhem, aggravated mayhem, a violation of Section 207, 209, or 209.5 of the Penal Code in which the victim suffers intentionally inflicted great bodily injury, robbery perpetrated by torture or by a person armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon or in which the victim suffers great bodily injury, carjacking perpetrated by torture or by a person armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon or in which the victim suffers great bodily injury, a violation of subdivision (b) of Section 451 of the Penal Code, a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 262 or paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 261 of the Penal Code, a violation of Section 288 of the Penal Code, any of the following acts when committed by force, violence, duress, menace, fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person: a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 262 of the Penal Code, a violation of Section 264.1, 286, or 288a of the Penal Code, or a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 289 of the Penal Code; a violation of Section 459 of the Penal Code in the first degree, assault with intent to commit murder, a violation of Section 220 of the Penal Code in which the victim suffers great bodily injury, a violation of Section 18725, 18740, 18745, 18750, or 18755 of the Penal Code, or if the defendant has been charged with a felony involving death, great bodily injury, or an act which poses a serious threat of bodily harm to another person.
(2) “Developmental disability” shall have the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 4512.
(b) (1) A person with a developmental disability may be committed to the State Department of Developmental Services for residential placement other than in a state developmental center or state-operated community facility, as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 6509, if he or she is found to be a danger to himself, herself, or others.
(A) Any order of commitment made pursuant to this paragraph shall expire automatically one year after the order of commitment is made.
(B) This paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit any party enumerated in Section 6502 from filing subsequent petitions for additional periods of commitment. In the event subsequent petitions are filed, the procedures followed shall be the same as with the initial petition for commitment.
(2) A person with a developmental disability shall not be committed to the State Department of Developmental Services for placement in a state developmental center or state-operated community facility pursuant to this article unless he or she meets the criteria for admission to a developmental center pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 7505 and is dangerous to self or others or he or she currently is a resident of a state developmental center or state-operated community facility pursuant to an order of commitment made pursuant to this article prior to July 1, 2012, and is being recommitted pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subdivision.
(3) If the person with a developmental disability is in the care or treatment of a state hospital, developmental center, or other facility at the time a petition for commitment is filed pursuant to this article, proof of a recent overt act while in the care and treatment of a state hospital, developmental center, or other facility is not required in order to find that the person is a danger to self or others.
(4) In the event subsequent petitions are filed with respect to a resident of a state developmental center or a state-operated community facility committed prior to July 1, 2012, the procedures followed and criteria for recommitment shall be the same as with the initial petition for commitment.
(5) In any proceedings conducted under the authority of this article, the person alleged to have a developmental disability shall be informed of his or her right to counsel by the court, and if the person does not have an attorney for the proceedings, the court shall immediately appoint the public defender or other attorney to represent him or her. The person shall pay the cost for the legal services if he or she is able to do so. At any judicial proceeding under the provisions of this article, allegations that a person has a developmental disability and is dangerous to himself or herself or to others shall be presented by the district attorney for the county unless the board of supervisors, by ordinance or resolution, delegates this authority to the county counsel. The clients’ rights advocate for the regional center may attend any judicial proceedings to assist in protecting the individual’s rights.
(c) (1) Any order of commitment made pursuant to this article with respect to a person described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 7505 shall expire automatically one year after the order of commitment is made. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any party enumerated in Section 6502 from filing subsequent petitions for additional periods of commitment. In the event subsequent petitions are filed, the procedures followed shall be the same as with an initial petition for commitment.
(2) Any order of commitment made pursuant to this article on or after July 1, 2012, with respect to the admission to a developmental center of a person described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7505 shall expire automatically six months after the earlier of the order of commitment pursuant to this section or the order of a placement in a developmental center pursuant to Section 6506, unless the regional center, prior to the expiration of the order of commitment, notifies the court in writing of the need for an extension. The required notice shall state facts demonstrating that the individual continues to be in acute crisis as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 4418.7 and the justification for the requested extension, and shall be accompanied by the comprehensive assessment and plan described in subdivision (e) of Section 4418.7. An order granting an extension shall not extend the total period of commitment beyond one year, including any placement in a developmental center pursuant to Section 6506. If, prior to expiration of one year, the regional center notifies the court in writing of facts demonstrating that, due to circumstances beyond the regional center’s control, the placement cannot be made prior to expiration of the extension, and the court determines that good cause exists, the court may grant one further extension of up to 30 days. The court may also issue any orders the court deems appropriate to ensure that necessary steps are taken to ensure that the individual can be safely and appropriately transitioned to the community in a timely manner. The required notice shall state facts demonstrating that the regional center has made significant progress implementing the plan described in subdivision (e) of Section 4418.7 and that extraordinary circumstances exist beyond the regional center’s control that have prevented the plan’s implementation. Nothing in this paragraph precludes the individual or any person acting on his or her behalf from making a request for release pursuant to Section 4800, or counsel for the individual from filing a petition for habeas corpus pursuant to Section 4801. Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 4801, for purposes of this paragraph, judicial review shall be in the superior court of the county that issued the order of commitment pursuant to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 25, Sec. 11. (AB 89) Effective June 27, 2013.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018