1.    Whenever there is reason to doubt the defendant‘s fitness to proceed, the court shall order the defendant be examined by a tier 1a mental health professional.

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2.    An examination must occur within fifteen days from receipt of material necessary to examine the fitness of the individual and notice of entry of the order served upon the tier 1a mental health professional. Attorneys shall disclose any materials necessary to examine the fitness of the individual to the tier 1a examiner contemporaneously with the order. For good cause shown, the court may grant an extension allowing an additional seven days to complete the examination.

3.    The report of the examining mental health professional, whether for a retrospective evaluation of fitness or an evaluation of the defendant’s current fitness, must be provided to the court in writing within thirty days of the date of the examination.

4.    The report must include:

a.    The identity of the individuals interviewed and records and other information considered.

b.    Procedures, tests, and techniques utilized in the assessment.

c.    The date and time of the examination of the defendant, and the identity of each individual present during the examination.

d.    The relevant information obtained, other information not obtained, and the defendant’s responses to questions related to the defendant’s fitness to proceed, except for any restricted, proprietary, copyrighted, or other information subject to trade secret protection which the examiner believes may be relevant, and the findings made.

e.    An opinion as to whether the defendant is fit to proceed, is able to understand the nature or purpose of the proceedings against the defendant, is able to effectively communicate with counsel, and whether the defendant will attain fitness to proceed within the time frames set forth in section 12.1-04-08. If the examiner is unable to determine whether the defendant will attain fitness within a specified period of time, the report must include the reasoning. The report may include a general description of the type of treatment needed and of the therapeutically appropriate treatment or other appropriate treatment.

5.    If the findings of the report are contested, the court shall hold a hearing before deciding whether the defendant currently lacks fitness to proceed and whether the defendant will attain fitness to proceed. Upon hearing, the prosecution and defense have the right to summon and cross-examine the persons responsible for the report and to offer evidence upon the issues.