SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1654

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 16, 1996

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1654 (1R).

      Under the present provisions of New Jersey's criminal code, only psychiatrists are authorized to perform competency evaluations of defendants in criminal cases. This bill would permit licensed psychologists to also conduct such evaluations.