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A task force to review laws related to criminal insanity and competency to stand trial is established, with members as provided in this subsection.
One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate;
One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
The secretary of the department of social and health services or the secretary's designee;
The secretary of the department of corrections or the secretary's designee;
The director of the health care authority or the director's designee;
The Washington state attorney general or the attorney general's designee;
The director of the Washington state office of public defense or the director's designee; and
Seventeen members to be appointed by the department of social and health services meeting the descriptions identified in (a)(viii)(A) through (O) of this subsection:
(A) One member representing superior courts, to be designated by the Washington state superior court judges association;
(B) One member representing courts of limited jurisdiction, to be designated by the Washington state district and municipal courts judges association;
(C) One member representing prosecutors, to be designated by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;
(D) One member representing trial-level criminal defense attorneys, to be designated by the Washington defender association;
(E) One member representing law enforcement, to be designated by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
(F) One member representing the interests of victims, to be designated by the office of crime victims advocacy;
(G) One member designated by disability rights Washington;
(H) One member designated by the national alliance on mental illness Washington;
(I) An independent mental health professional with expertise in forensics;
(J) A representative of a medicaid managed care organization;
(K) A representative of county governments, to be designated by the Washington state association of counties;
(L) A representative of city governments, to be designated by the association of Washington cities;
(M) A representative of western state hospital;
(N) A representative of eastern state hospital; and
(O) Three individuals with direct lived experience of the forensic mental health system, including at least one person who is a former competency restoration patient and at least one person with experience of commitment related to criminal insanity.
b. The task force shall choose its cochairs from among its membership. The department of social and health services shall convene the initial meeting of the task force.
The task force shall undertake the following tasks:
A comprehensive review of the laws in chapter 10.77 RCW to modernize and clean up issues that present barriers to administration, public safety, consistency, fairness, efficiency, and comprehension by victims, committed individuals, families, and the courts;
Consider potential terminology and language changes to promote patient-centered language, improve coherence between legal and medical terminology, reduce stigma, and improve understanding of the competency evaluation process; and
Make recommendations concerning law changes that would remove barriers to diversion, promote effective treatment, and increase services that would facilitate safe and responsible hospital discharges.
The task force may form subcommittees to assist its work. The task force may contract with additional persons with specific technical expertise if necessary to carry out the mandates of the study. Such contracts may only be entered if an appropriation is specifically provided for this purpose.
Staff support for the task force must be provided by the department of social and health services. Senate committee services and the office of program research shall provide staff support for the legislative members of the task force. The department of social and health services must provide reporting under RCW 43.18A.030.
Legislative members of the task force are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.
The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2026.
This section expires June 30, 2027.
General
RCW 10.77.020
RCW 10.77.027
RCW 10.77.0942
RCW 10.77.095
RCW 10.77.097
RCW 10.77.210
RCW 10.77.230
RCW 10.77.240
RCW 10.77.250
RCW 10.77.255
RCW 10.77.260
RCW 10.77.270
RCW 10.77.275
RCW 10.77.280
RCW 10.77.300
Authorized Leave and Furloughs
RCW 10.77.145
RCW 10.77.163
Community Notifications
RCW 10.77.165
RCW 10.77.205
RCW 10.77.207
Evaluations Under This Chapter
RCW 10.77.060
RCW 10.77.065
RCW 10.77.070
RCW 10.77.100
Criminal Insanity
RCW 10.77.025
RCW 10.77.030
RCW 10.77.040
RCW 10.77.080
RCW 10.77.091
RCW 10.77.094
RCW 10.77.110
RCW 10.77.120
RCW 10.77.132
RCW 10.77.140
RCW 10.77.150
RCW 10.77.152
RCW 10.77.155
RCW 10.77.160
RCW 10.77.170
RCW 10.77.175
RCW 10.77.180
RCW 10.77.190
RCW 10.77.195
RCW 10.77.200
RCW 10.77.220
Competency to Stand Trial
RCW 10.77.050
RCW 10.77.068
RCW 10.77.072
RCW 10.77.074
RCW 10.77.075
RCW 10.77.079
RCW 10.77.084
RCW 10.77.0845
RCW 10.77.086
RCW 10.77.088
RCW 10.77.0885
RCW 10.77.089
RCW 10.77.092
RCW 10.77.093
RCW 10.77.202
RCW 10.77.320
The following sections are decodified: