Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits individuals with serious mental illnesses from being sentenced to death.

Highlights:

• Prohibits individuals who raise the issue of their serious mental illness at the time of the alleged commission of the offense and is found to be ineligible for a sentence of death due to serious mental illness from being sentenced to death (Sec. 1).

• Defines “serious mental illness” as if both of the following apply (Sec. 1):

• The person has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and/or delusional disorder; and

• At the time of the alleged aggravated murder that the person is being charged with, the conditions above significantly impaired the person’s capacity to exercise rational judgement in relation to the person’s conduct with respect to conforming conduct to the requirements of the law or appreciating the nature, consequences, or wrongfulness of the person’s conduct.

• Requires that if a person raises the matter of the individual’s serious mental illness at the time of the alleged commission of the offense, the court must order an evaluation of the person and hold a pretrial hearing on the matter (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text