HOUSE AMENDED

 

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 381

PRINTER'S NO.  1608

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

383

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY ORIE, LEACH, GREENLEAF, KITCHEN, RAFFERTY, FONTANA, BRUBAKER, STACK, BOSCOLA, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, WASHINGTON, FERLO AND HUGHES, FEBRUARY 20, 2009

  

  

AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JANUARY 25, 2010  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the

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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in organization and

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jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, authorizing the

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establishment of problem solving courts.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

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is amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 916.  Problem solving courts.

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(a)  Establishment.--The court of common pleas of a judicial

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district and the Municipal Court of Philadelphia may establish, 

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from available funds, one or more problem solving courts which

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have specialized jurisdiction, including, but not limited to,

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drug courts, mental health courts and driving under the

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influence courts, whereby defendants are admitted to a court-

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supervised individualized treatment program. The court may adopt

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local rules for the administration of problem solving courts and

 


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their related treatment services. The local rules may not be

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inconsistent with this section or any rules established by the

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Supreme Court.

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(b)  Statewide problem solving courts coordinator.--The To

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the extent that funds are available, the Supreme Court may

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appoint a Statewide problem solving courts coordinator. The

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coordinator may:

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(1)  Encourage and assist in the establishment of problem

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solving courts in each judicial district.

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(2)  Identify sources of funding for problem solving

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courts and their related treatment services, including the

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availability of grants.

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(3)  Provide coordination and technical assistance for

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grant applications.

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(4)  Develop model guidelines for the administration of

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problem solving courts and their related treatment services.

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(5)  Establish procedures for monitoring problem-solving

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courts and their related treatment services and for

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evaluating the effectiveness of problem solving courts and

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their related treatment services.

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(c)  Advisory committee.--The Supreme Court may establish, 

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from available funds, an interdisciplinary and interbranch

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advisory committee to advise and assist the Statewide problem

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solving courts coordinator in monitoring and administrating

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problem solving courts Statewide.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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