Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civil Commitment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel seeks to restore prior definition in violent-predator law amid Attorney General dispute
Summary
The Senate Judiciary subcommittee reported C.233 favorably; the bill would restore the prior statutory definition of "likely to engage in acts of violent behavior" in the violent-predator law, reversing a 2023 change.
The Judiciary subcommittee voted to report C.233 favorably after sponsors said the bill would restore previous statutory language used to determine whether a person is "likely to engage in acts of violent behavior" under the state's violent-predator provisions.
Subcommittee member Senator Lieber explained the 2023 omnibus change created a statutory disagreement that, in the view of sponsors and the Attorney General, has made it easier for individuals subject to civil commitment processes to be sent to hearings that can lead to discharge. "All this does is revert back to the previous language from 4 years ago," Lieber said, and sponsors said the prior wording is intended to remove ambiguity between the Attorney General and the state mental-health board.
A sponsor said the Senate previously passed the bill unanimously (sponsored by Senator Shealy) but the House did not take it up last session. The subcommittee recorded no opposition and reported the bill favorably.
No technical amendments were offered at the subcommittee hearing; members said the measure is intended to resolve an administrative disagreement about the statutory definition and the effect it may have on future discharges from the sexually violent predator program.
