Electronic Process in Competency & Administrative Hearings

     Current law requires a court to allow the department of human services (department) to submit a competency evaluation for a criminal defendant (evaluation) to the court through electronic means. The bill expands the use of electronic processes in competency proceedings by clarifying that the court must permit the department's evaluation submission via e-filing and by directing the department to:

• Accept, by electronic means, a court order to conduct an evaluation; and
• Electronically deliver an evaluation to interested parties through the e-filing system.

     Current law generally requires an administrative agency that is conducting an adjudicatory hearing (agency) to serve any person entitled to notice of that hearing either personally or by first-class mail. The bill permits an agency to serve notice of the hearing by electronic means, upon a documented request or with the documented consent of the person to be notified. The bill similarly authorizes electronic service with respect to an agency's final decision or the initial decision by an administrative law judge or hearing officer.

      For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the bill appropriates $26,296 to the judicial department from the judicial department information technology cash fund. The appropriation is for information technology infrastructure.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)


(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)