HCS/SCS/SB 118 - This act authorizes circuit courts or a combination of circuits to create veterans treatment courts. These courts will handle cases involving substance abuse or mental illness of current or former military personnel. Circuit courts must enter into a memorandum of understanding with participating prosecuting attorneys, and other interested parties. Veterans treatment courts may accept participants from other jurisdictions when there is not a veterans treatment court in the jurisdiction where the participant is charged and as long as other criteria are met.
The veteran treatment courts shall refer participants to substance abuse and mental health treatments. Any statements made by a participant during treatment or reports prepared by staff of the treatment program shall not be admissible as evidence against the participant in judicial proceedings. Veterans treatment court staff shall be informed of matters relevant to a participant's treatment, but records and reports are to be treated as confidential and not available to the public.
This act is identical to provisions contained in CCS/SS/SCS/HCS/HBs 364 & 434 (2013) and similar to HB 88 (2013), HB 73 (2013), HB 1110(2012), and SB 768 (2012).
JESSICA BAKER