The board creates and administers a statewide, independent competency attainment system that certifies competency attainment programs and uses forensic navigators to promote prevention and diversion of people with mental illnesses and cognitive impairments from entering the legal system, support defendants with mental illness and cognitive impairments, support defendants in the competency process, and assist courts and partners in coordinating competency attainment services.
The board shall:
- approve and recommend to the legislature a budget for the board and the forensic navigator program;
- establish procedures for distribution of funding under this section to the forensic navigator program;
establish forensic navigator standards, administrative policies, procedures, and rules consistent with statute, rules of court, and laws that affect a forensic navigator's work;
- establish certification requirements for competency restoration attainment programs; and
- carry out the programs under sections 611.57, 611.58, and 611.59.
The board may:
- adopt standards, policies, or procedures necessary to ensure quality assistance for defendants found incompetent to stand trial and charged with a felony, gross misdemeanor, or targeted misdemeanor, or for defendants found incompetent to stand trial who have recurring incidents;
- establish district forensic navigator offices as provided in subdivision 4; and
- propose statutory changes to the legislature and rule changes to the supreme court that would facilitate the effective operation of the forensic navigator program.
The board may propose amendments for 27.24 supreme court consideration.