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Committee approves SB955 after debate over panel size and status hearings
Summary
SB955, which changes fitness-to-proceed procedures, passed the joint committee with amendments after Judiciary expressed opposition to parts of the bill and the public defender urged retaining three-member panels. Lawmakers reduced automatic examiner requirements while preserving judicial discretion to appoint additional examiners.
The joint Senate committees on Health & Human Services and Judiciary voted to pass SB955 with amendments after a detailed exchange between Judiciary staff, defense representatives and public-health witnesses about how fitness-to-proceed evaluations should be structured.
Jennifer Wong, staff attorney for the criminal divisions of the First Circuit Court, said Judiciary "respectfully opposes portions of the bill…
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