HCS HB 1110 -- DRUG COURTS AND VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS (Barnes)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN:  Committee on Veterans

Currently, a criminal defendant accepted by a drug court for
disposition must be determined by the prosecuting attorney to be
a nonviolent person.  This substitute removes that requirement.

The substitute, also, allows any circuit court or combination of
circuit courts to establish a veterans treatment court to provide
an alternative for the judicial system to dispose of criminal
cases that stem from substance abuse or mental illness of
military veterans or current military personnel.

A veterans treatment court must:

(1)  Combine judicial supervision, drug testing, and substance
abuse and mental health treatment to veterans or current military
personnel; and

(2)  Make a referral for substance abuse or mental health
treatment, or a combination of both, through the federal
Department of Defense health care, the Veterans Administration,
or a community-based treatment program except for good cause
found by the court.  Any community-based treatment program
utilized must receive state or federal funds in connection with
the referral and only refer the individual to a program which is
certified by the Department of Mental Health or the United States
Veterans Administration unless no appropriate certified treatment
program is located within the same county as the veterans
treatment court.

The charges, petition, or penalty against a court participant may
be dismissed, reduced, or modified upon the successful completion
of the program.  This provision will not apply to a participant
who has previously had the charges, petition, or penalty
dismissed, reduced, or modified under this provision.  Any fees
received by a court from a participant as payment for substance
abuse or mental health treatment programs must not be considered
court costs, charges, or fines.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund of an
income of $0 or a cost of Unknown in FY 2013, FY 2014, and FY
2015.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2013, FY 2014, and FY
2015.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated April 4, 2012 at 7:24 pm