technical correction; critical infrastructure information

Secure hospital care when beds run short

Through December 31, 2031, the Arizona State Hospital can accept a defendant when secure state hospital beds are unavailable. The defendant must be found dangerous and incompetent, receive at least 12 months of competency-restoration services, and have a primary psychiatric condition. The order keeps the defendant committed until they become competent or are no longer dangerous, and can allow needed treatment, including medication, and standing restraints for safety. The Department of Health Services pays covered hospital costs, including nonpsychiatric care; when a secure facility becomes licensed, the hospital must arrange a transfer as soon as practicable. The hospital may accept no more than one qualifying defendant from a county with fewer than 400,000 residents, and capacity limits can block additional admissions; certain delayed admissions do not have to be reimbursed to counties. If the medical director finds the defendant may no longer be dangerous or incompetent, the case proceeds under civil commitment rules. The law applies retroactively to December 31, 2023.