House Bill No. introduced by J. Reavis and M. Yakawich aims to prohibit the placement of sentenced defendants in the state forensic mental health facility at Galen. The bill amends Section 46-14-312 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to specify that if a defendant is found to have suffered from a mental disease or disorder at the time of the offense, they may be committed to a mental health facility, but explicitly not to the state forensic mental health facility at Galen. The bill also allows for the possibility of transferring the defendant to other appropriate facilities based on treatment recommendations.

Additionally, the bill includes a saving clause that ensures it does not affect any rights, duties, penalties, or proceedings that were established before its effective date. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval. This legislative change reflects a shift in how the state addresses the treatment and placement of defendants with mental health issues, emphasizing the need for appropriate care while excluding a specific facility from consideration.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 46-14-312
HB0237_1(1): 46-14-312
HB0237_1(2): 46-14-312
HB0237_1(3): 46-14-312
HB0237_1(4): 46-14-312
HB0237_1(5): 46-14-312
HB0237_1(6): 46-14-312
HB0237_1: 46-14-312