COLUMBUS, Ohio — A proposed bill that would give courts significantly more time to restore the mental competency of murder defendants is advancing through the Ohio Senate, despite sharp opposition from public defenders who say it’s based on a faulty premise and could strain the state’s mental health system.

Senate Bill 295, sponsored by Sen. Nathan Manning, R–North Ridgeville, and Sen. Tom Patton, R–Strongsville, was favorably reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday after three hearings. It now moves to the Senate Rules and Reference Committee, which will decide whether to send it to the full Senate for a vote.

The bill was prompted by the case of De’Lawnte Hardy, a man suffering from schizophrenia who is accused of killing his grandmother and Cleveland police officer

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