This act authorizes circuit courts or a combination of circuits to create veterans treatment courts. These courts will dispose of cases involving substance abuse or mental illness of current or former military personnel. Treatment referrals by the court shall be through the Department of Defense health care, Veterans Administration, or community-based treatment programs. The court shall dismiss, reduce, or modify the charges against the participant upon successful completion of a treatment program.

Community based treatment programs must use programs certified by the Missouri Department of Mental Health or the United States Veterans Association unless no certified program is located in the same county as the court. Community based programs shall receive state or federal funds for referrals from veterans treatment courts.

Persons who have previously had charges against them dismissed, reduced or modified by a veterans treatment court will be ineligible for future disposition of cases by a veterans treatment court.

This act is similar to SB 768 (2012).

MIKE HAMMANN