Senate Bill No. 6–Joint Rules Committee

 

Prefiled June 13, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee of the Whole

 

SUMMARY—Enacts provisions governing establishment by district court of program for treatment of mentally ill offenders. (BDR 1‑5)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: Yes.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to mental health; providing for the establishment by a district court of a program for the treatment of mentally ill offenders; authorizing justices’ courts and municipal courts to transfer original jurisdiction of certain cases to the district court for the purpose of assigning offenders to the program of treatment; enacting various provisions pertaining to the program of treatment; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. NRS 4.370 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2    4.370  1.  Except as [limited by] otherwise provided in subsection 2,

1-3  justices’ courts have jurisdiction of the following civil actions and

1-4  proceedings and no others except as provided by specific statute:

1-5    (a) In actions arising on contract for the recovery of money only, if the

1-6  sum claimed, exclusive of interest, does not exceed $7,500.

1-7    (b) In actions for damages for injury to the person, or for taking,

1-8  detaining or injuring personal property, or for injury to real property where

1-9  no issue is raised by the verified answer of the defendant involving the title

1-10  to or boundaries of the real property, if the damage claimed does not

1-11  exceed $7,500.

1-12    (c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (l) in actions for a fine,

1-13  penalty or forfeiture not exceeding $7,500, given by statute or the

1-14  ordinance of a county, city or town, where no issue is raised by the answer

1-15  involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, toll or municipal fine.

1-16    (d) In actions upon bonds or undertakings conditioned for the payment

1-17  of money, if the sum claimed does not exceed $7,500, though the penalty

1-18  may exceed that sum. Bail bonds and other undertakings posted in criminal

1-19  matters may be forfeited regardless of amount.

2-1    (e) In actions to recover the possession of personal property, if the value

2-2  of the property does not exceed $7,500.

2-3    (f) To take and enter judgment on the confession of a defendant, when

2-4  the amount confessed, exclusive of interest, does not exceed $7,500.

2-5    (g) Of actions for the possession of lands and tenements where the

2-6  relation of landlord and tenant exists, when damages claimed do not exceed

2-7  $7,500 or when no damages are claimed.

2-8    (h) Of actions when the possession of lands and tenements has been

2-9  unlawfully or fraudulently obtained or withheld, when damages claimed do

2-10  not exceed $7,500 or when no damages are claimed.

2-11    (i) Of suits for the collection of taxes, where the amount of the tax sued

2-12  for does not exceed $7,500.

2-13    (j) Of actions for the enforcement of mechanics’ liens, where the

2-14  amount of the lien sought to be enforced, exclusive of interest, does not

2-15  exceed $7,500.

2-16    (k) Of actions for the enforcement of liens of owners of facilities for

2-17  storage, where the amount of the lien sought to be enforced, exclusive of

2-18  interest, does not exceed $7,500.

2-19    (l) In actions for a fine imposed for a violation of NRS 484.757.

2-20    (m) Except in a judicial district that includes a county whose population

2-21  is 100,000 or more, in any action for the issuance of a temporary or

2-22  extended order for protection against domestic violence.

2-23    (n) In small claims actions under the provisions of chapter 73 of NRS.

2-24    (o) In actions to contest the validity of liens on mobile homes or

2-25  manufactured homes.

2-26    (p) In any action pursuant to NRS 200.591 for the issuance of a

2-27  protective order against a person alleged to be committing the crime of

2-28  stalking, aggravated stalking or harassment.

2-29    2.  The jurisdiction conferred by this section does not extend to civil

2-30  actions, other than for forcible entry or detainer, in which the title of real

2-31  property or mining claims or questions affecting the boundaries of land are

2-32  involved.

2-33    3.  Justices’ courts have jurisdiction of all misdemeanors and no other

2-34  criminal offenses except as otherwise provided by specific statute. Upon

2-35  approval of the district court, a justice’s court may transfer original

2-36  jurisdiction of a misdemeanor to the district court for the purpose of

2-37  assigning an offender to a program established pursuant to section 5 of

2-38  this act.

2-39    4.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 5 and 6, in criminal

2-40  cases the jurisdiction of justices of the peace extends to the limits of their

2-41  respective counties.

2-42    5.  In the case of any arrest made by a member of the Nevada highway

2-43  patrol, the jurisdiction of the justices of the peace extends to the limits of

2-44  their respective counties and to the limits of all counties which have

2-45  common boundaries with their respective counties.

2-46    6.  Each justice’s court has jurisdiction of any violation of a regulation

2-47  governing vehicular traffic on an airport within the township in which the

2-48  court is established.

 

3-1    Sec. 2.  NRS 5.050 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-2    5.050  1.  Municipal courts have jurisdiction of civil actions or

3-3  proceedings:

3-4    (a) For the violation of any ordinance of their respective cities.

3-5    (b) To prevent or abate a nuisance within the limits of their respective

3-6  cities.

3-7    2.  The municipal courts have jurisdiction of all misdemeanors

3-8  committed in violation of the ordinances of their respective cities. Upon

3-9  approval of the district court, a municipal court may transfer original

3-10  jurisdiction of a misdemeanor to the district court for the purpose of

3-11  assigning an offender to a program established pursuant to section 5 of

3-12  this act.

3-13    3.  The municipal courts have jurisdiction of:

3-14    (a) Any action for the collection of taxes or assessments levied for city

3-15  purposes, when the principal sum thereof does not exceed $2,500.

3-16    (b) Actions to foreclose liens in the name of the city for the nonpayment

3-17  of those taxes or assessments when the principal sum claimed does not

3-18  exceed $2,500.

3-19    (c) Actions for the breach of any bond given by any officer or person to

3-20  or for the use or benefit of the city, and of any action for damages to which

3-21  the city is a party, and upon all forfeited recognizances given to or for the

3-22  use or benefit of the city, and upon all bonds given on appeals from the

3-23  municipal court in any of the cases named in this section, when the

3-24  principal sum claimed does not exceed $2,500.

3-25    (d) Actions for the recovery of personal property belonging to the city,

3-26  when the value thereof does not exceed $2,500.

3-27    (e) Actions by the city for the collection of any damages, debts or other

3-28  obligations when the amount claimed, exclusive of costs or attorney’s fees,

3-29  or both if allowed, does not exceed $2,500.

3-30    4.  Nothing contained in subsection 3 gives the municipal court

3-31  jurisdiction to determine any such cause when it appears from the

3-32  pleadings that the validity of any tax, assessment or levy, or title to real

3-33  property, is necessarily an issue in the cause, in which case the court shall

3-34  certify the cause to the district court in like manner and with the same

3-35  effect as provided by law for certification of causes by justices’ courts.

3-36    Sec. 3. Chapter 176A of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

3-37  the provisions set forth as sections 4 to 8, inclusive, of this act.

3-38    Sec. 4.  “Mental illness” means an organic disorder of the brain or a

3-39  clinically significant disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation,

3-40  memory or behavior which is listed in the most recent edition of the

3-41  clinical manual of the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-9-

3-42  CM, code range 290 to 302.99, inclusive, or 306 to 316, inclusive, or the

3-43  corresponding code in the most recent edition of the American

3-44  Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

3-45  Disorders, DSM-MD, Axes I, II or III, and which seriously limits the

3-46  capacity of a person to function in the primary aspects of daily living,

3-47  including, without limitation, personal relations, living arrangements,

3-48  employment and recreation.

4-1    Sec. 5.  A court may establish an appropriate program for the

4-2  treatment of mental illness to which it may assign a defendant pursuant

4-3  to section 7 of this act. The assignment must include the terms and

4-4  conditions for successful completion of the program and provide for

4-5  progress reports at intervals set by the court to ensure that the defendant

4-6  is making satisfactory progress towards completion of the program.

4-7    Sec. 6.  1.  A justice’s court or a municipal court may, upon

4-8  approval of the district court, transfer original jurisdiction to the district

4-9  court of a case involving an eligible defendant.

4-10    2.  As used in this section, “eligible defendant” means a person who:

4-11    (a) Has not tendered a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill or nolo

4-12  contendere to, or been found guilty of, an offense that is a misdemeanor;

4-13    (b) Appears to suffer from mental illness; and

4-14    (c) Would benefit from assignment to a program established pursuant

4-15  to section 5 of this act.

4-16    Sec. 7.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, if a

4-17  defendant who suffers from mental illness tenders a plea of guilty, guilty

4-18  but mentally ill or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, any offense

4-19  for which the suspension of sentence or the granting of probation is not

4-20  prohibited by statute, the court may, without entering a judgment of

4-21  conviction and with the consent of the defendant, suspend further

4-22  proceedings and place the defendant on probation upon terms and

4-23  conditions that must include attendance and successful completion of a

4-24  program established pursuant to section 5 of this act.

4-25    2.  If the offense committed by the defendant involved the use or

4-26  threatened use of force or violence or if the defendant was previously

4-27  convicted in this state or in any other jurisdiction of a felony that

4-28  involved the use or threatened use of force or violence, the court may not

4-29  assign the defendant to the program unless the prosecuting attorney

4-30  stipulates to the assignment.

4-31    3.  Upon violation of a term or condition:

4-32    (a) The court may enter a judgment of conviction and proceed as

4-33  provided in the section pursuant to which the defendant was charged.

4-34    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (e) of subsection 2 of

4-35  NRS 193.130, the court may order the defendant to the custody of the

4-36  department of prisons if the offense is punishable by imprisonment in the

4-37  state prison.

4-38    4.  Upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions, the court shall

4-39  discharge the defendant and dismiss the proceedings against him.

4-40  Discharge and dismissal pursuant to this section is without adjudication

4-41  of guilt and is not a conviction for purposes of this section or for

4-42  purposes of employment, civil rights or any statute or regulation or

4-43  license or questionnaire or for any other public or private purpose, but is

4-44  a conviction for the purpose of additional penalties imposed for second

4-45  or subsequent convictions or the setting of bail. Discharge and dismissal

4-46  restores the defendant, in the contemplation of the law, to the status

4-47  occupied before the arrest, indictment or information. The defendant

4-48  may not be held thereafter under any law to be guilty of perjury or

4-49  otherwise giving a false statement by reason of failure to recite or

5-1  acknowledge that arrest, indictment, information or trial in response to

5-2  an inquiry made of him for any purpose.

5-3    Sec. 8.  1.  Three years after a defendant is discharged from

5-4  probation pursuant to section 7 of this act, the court shall order sealed all

5-5  documents, papers and exhibits in the defendant’s record, minute book

5-6  entries and entries on dockets, and other documents relating to the case

5-7  in the custody of such other agencies and officers as are named in the

5-8  court’s order if the defendant fulfills the terms and conditions imposed

5-9  by the court and the division. The court shall order those records sealed

5-10  without a hearing unless the division petitions the court, for good cause

5-11  shown, not to seal the records and requests a hearing thereon.

5-12    2.  If the court orders sealed the record of a defendant discharged

5-13  pursuant to section 7 of this act, the court shall send a copy of the order

5-14  to each agency or officer named in the order. Each such agency or

5-15  officer shall notify the court in writing of its compliance with the order.

5-16    Sec. 9.  NRS 176A.010 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-17    176A.010  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise

5-18  requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 176A.020 to 176A.080,

5-19  inclusive, and section 4 of this act, have the meanings ascribed to them in

5-20  those sections.

5-21    Sec. 10.  NRS 176A.500 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-22    176A.500  1.  The period of probation or suspension of sentence may

5-23  be indeterminate or may be fixed by the court and may at any time be

5-24  extended or terminated by the court, but the period, including any

5-25  extensions thereof, must not be more than:

5-26    (a) Three years for a:

5-27      (1) Gross misdemeanor; or

5-28      (2) Suspension of sentence pursuant to NRS 453.3363[;] or section 7

5-29  of this act; or

5-30    (b) Five years for a felony.

5-31    2.  At any time during probation or suspension of sentence, the court

5-32  may issue a warrant for violating any of the conditions of probation or

5-33  suspension of sentence and cause the defendant to be arrested. Except for

5-34  the purpose of giving a dishonorable discharge from probation, and except

5-35  as otherwise provided in this subsection, the time during which a warrant

5-36  for violating any of the conditions of probation is in effect is not part of the

5-37  period of probation. If the warrant is canceled or probation is reinstated, the

5-38  court may include any amount of that time as part of the period of

5-39  probation.

5-40    3.  Any parole and probation officer or any peace officer with power to

5-41  arrest may arrest a probationer without a warrant, or may deputize any

5-42  other officer with power to arrest to do so by giving him a written

5-43  statement setting forth that the probationer has, in the judgment of the

5-44  parole and probation officer, violated the conditions of probation. Except

5-45  as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the parole and probation officer, or

5-46  the peace officer, after making an arrest shall present to the detaining

5-47  authorities, if any, a statement of the charges against the probationer. The

5-48  parole and probation officer shall at once notify the court which granted

5-49  probation of the arrest and detention or residential confinement of the

6-1  probationer and shall submit a report in writing showing in what manner

6-2  the probationer has violated the conditions of probation.

6-3    4.  A parole and probation officer or a peace officer may immediately

6-4  release from custody without any further proceedings any person he arrests

6-5  without a warrant for violating a condition of probation if the parole and

6-6  probation officer or peace officer determines that there is no probable

6-7  cause to believe that the person violated the condition of probation.

6-8    Sec. 11.  NRS 179.245 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-9    179.245  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5 and NRS

6-10  453.3365, and section 8 of this act, a person who has been convicted of:

6-11    (a) Any felony may, after 15 years from the date of his conviction or, if

6-12  he is imprisoned, from the date of his release from actual custody;

6-13    (b) Any gross misdemeanor may, after 10 years from the date of his

6-14  conviction or release from custody;

6-15    (c) A violation of NRS 484.379 other than a felony, or a battery which

6-16  constitutes domestic violence pursuant to NRS 33.018 other than a felony

6-17  may, after 7 years from the date of his conviction or release from custody;

6-18  or

6-19    (d) Any other misdemeanor may, after 5 years from the date of his

6-20  conviction or release from custody,

6-21  petition the court in which the conviction was obtained for the sealing of

6-22  all records relating to the conviction.

6-23    2.  A petition filed pursuant to subsection 1 must be accompanied by

6-24  current, verified records of the petitioner’s criminal history received from:

6-25    (a) The central repository for Nevada records of criminal history; and

6-26    (b) The local law enforcement agency of the city or county in which the

6-27  conviction was entered.

6-28    3.  Upon receiving a petition pursuant to this section, the court shall

6-29  notify:

6-30    (a) The prosecuting attorney for the county; or

6-31    (b) If the person was convicted in a municipal court, the prosecuting

6-32  attorney for the city.

6-33  The prosecuting attorney and any person having relevant evidence may

6-34  testify and present evidence at the hearing on the petition.

6-35    4.  If, after the hearing, the court finds that, in the period prescribed in

6-36  subsection 1, the petitioner has not been arrested, except for minor moving

6-37  or standing traffic violations, the court may order sealed all records of the

6-38  conviction which are in the custody of the court, of another court in the

6-39  State of Nevada or of a public or private agency, company or official in the

6-40  State of Nevada, and may also order all such criminal identification records

6-41  of the petitioner returned to the file of the court where the proceeding was

6-42  commenced from, including, but not limited to, the Federal Bureau of

6-43  Investigation, the California bureau of identification and [investigation

6-44  bureau,] information, sheriffs’ offices and all other law enforcement

6-45  agencies reasonably known by either the petitioner or the court to have

6-46  possession of such records.

6-47    5.  A person may not petition the court to seal records relating to a

6-48  conviction of a crime against a child or a sexual offense.

6-49    6.  As used in this section:

7-1    (a) “Crime against a child” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS

7-2  179D.210.

7-3    (b) “Sexual offense” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 179D.410.

7-4    Sec. 12.  NRS 179.275 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-5    179.275  Where the court orders the sealing of a record pursuant to

7-6  NRS 179.245, 179.255 or 453.3365, or section 8 of this act, a copy of the

7-7  order must be sent to:

7-8    1.  The central repository for Nevada records of criminal history; and

7-9    2.  Each public or private company, agency or official named in the

7-10  order, and that person shall seal the records in his custody which relate to

7-11  the matters contained in the order, shall advise the court of his compliance,

7-12  and shall then seal the order.

7-13    Sec. 13.  NRS 179.285 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-14    179.285  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 179.301, if the court

7-15  orders a record sealed pursuant to NRS 179.245, 179.255 or 453.3365, or

7-16  section 8 of this act, all proceedings recounted in the record are deemed

7-17  never to have occurred, and the person to whom it pertains may properly

7-18  answer accordingly to any inquiry concerning the arrest, conviction or

7-19  acquittal and the events and proceedings relating to the arrest, conviction or

7-20  acquittal.

7-21    Sec. 14.  NRS 179.295 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-22    179.295  1.  The person who is the subject of the records that are

7-23  sealed pursuant to NRS 179.245, 179.255 or 453.3365 or section 8 of this

7-24  act may petition the court that ordered the records sealed to permit

7-25  inspection of the records by a person named in the petition, and the court

7-26  may order such inspection. Except as otherwise provided in this section

7-27  and NRS 179.301, the court may not order the inspection of the records

7-28  under any other circumstances.

7-29    2.  If a person has been arrested, the charges have been dismissed and

7-30  the records of the arrest have been sealed, the court may order the

7-31  inspection of the records by a prosecuting attorney upon a showing that as

7-32  a result of newly discovered evidence, the person has been arrested for the

7-33  same or similar offense and that there is sufficient evidence reasonably to

7-34  conclude that he will stand trial for the offense.

7-35    3.  The court may, upon the application of a prosecuting attorney or an

7-36  attorney representing a defendant in a criminal action, order an inspection

7-37  of such records for the purpose of obtaining information relating to persons

7-38  who were involved in the incident recorded.

7-39    Sec. 15.  The amendatory provisions of this act do not apply to

7-40  offenses committed before October 1, 2001.

 

7-41  H