Article archive / March 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 7. Source pages: 6.
In Lieu of Sanity Commission House Bill 15 to Add Licensed Counselor To Those Who May Serve on Clinical Team
House Bill 15 would add licensed professional counselors to the list of persons who may serve on a clinical team that is appointed in lieu of a sanity commission, if the measure is approved.
According to the digest, the present law provides for a sanity commission to be appointed by the court after a mental examination of a defendant is ordered. The sanity commission shall examine and report upon the mental condition of the defendant.
Present law authorizes the court, in lieu of appointing a sanity commission, to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the local mental health unit to examine and report on the mental condition of the defendant. Present law provides that if the local mental health unit is ordered to conduct the examination, it shall form a two- or three-member clinical team to be composed of one or more licensed physicians. If only one licensed physician is a member of the clinical team, the remaining members of the clinical team may be composed of any of the following persons who are qualified by training or experience in forensic evaluations: clinical psychologists, medical psychologists, or licensed clinical social workers.
The proposed law would retain present law and add licensed professional counselors to the list of persons who may serve on a clinical team.
Representative Ted James from Baton Rouge is the author.
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