Bill > HB480

This bill directs an existing committee focused on studying the restoration of competency for criminal defendants to submit additional legislative recommendations by July 1, 2025. The committee, which was previously established under New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 135:49, is required to provide its supplemental proposals to key state officials, including the senate president, house speaker, senate clerk, house clerk, and the governor, based on findings from its November 1, 2024 report. In the context of criminal law, "restoration of competency" typically refers to the process of determining whether a defendant who was previously deemed mentally unfit to stand trial can be rehabilitated or treated to regain the mental capacity to understand court proceedings and assist in their own defense. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage, and its primary purpose appears to be ensuring continued study and potential legislative improvements in handling competency issues for criminal defendants.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=779&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB480