§ 916.  Problem-solving courts.

(a)  Establishment.--The court of common pleas of a judicial district and the Municipal Court of Philadelphia may establish, from available funds, one or more problem-solving courts which have specialized jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, veterans courts, drug courts, mental health courts and driving under the influence courts, whereby defendants are admitted to a court-supervised individualized treatment program. The court may adopt local rules for the administration of problem-solving courts and their related treatment services. The local rules may not be inconsistent with this section or any rules established by the Supreme Court.

(b)  Statewide problem-solving courts coordinator.--To the extent that funds are available, the Supreme Court may appoint a Statewide problem-solving courts coordinator. The coordinator may:

(1)  Encourage and assist in the establishment of problem-solving courts in each judicial district.

(2)  Identify sources of funding for problem-solving courts and their related treatment services, including the availability of grants.

(3)  Provide coordination and technical assistance for grant applications.

(4)  Develop model guidelines for the administration of problem-solving courts and their related treatment services.

(5)  Establish procedures for monitoring problem-solving courts and their related treatment services and for evaluating the effectiveness of problem-solving courts and their related treatment services.

(c)  Advisory committee.--The Supreme Court may establish, from available funds, an interdisciplinary and interbranch advisory committee to advise and assist the Statewide problem-solving courts coordinator in monitoring and administrating problem-solving courts Statewide.

(d)  Veterans courts.--

(1)  If a court of common pleas of a judicial district or the Municipal Court of Philadelphia has established a veterans court under subsection (a), the court may provide for participation by defendants from another county or counties.

(2)  A court of common pleas of a judicial district or the Municipal Court of Philadelphia may join with the court in another county or counties to establish a multicounty veterans court.

(e)  Veterans track.--If a court of common pleas of a judicial district or the Municipal Court of Philadelphia established a problem-solving court under subsection (a), except for a veterans court, the court may establish a veterans track within the problem-solving court. As used in this subsection, the term "veterans track" means a program that utilizes some components of a veterans court, including, but not limited to, treatment resources and veteran mentors and does not have the population and judicial resources to sustain a full veterans court.

(f)  Local rules.--A court of common pleas of a judicial district or the Municipal Court of Philadelphia that established a veterans court, multicounty veterans court or veterans track under this section may adopt local rules for the administration of the courts and their related treatment services. The local rules may not be inconsistent with this section or any rules established by the Supreme Court.

(June 3, 2010, P.L.207, No.30, eff. 60 days; Nov. 3, 2020, P.L.1090, No.111, eff. 60 days)

 

2020 Amendment.  Act 111 amended subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (d), (e) and (f).

2010 Amendment.  Act 30 added section 916.

Cross References.  Section 916 is referred to in section 9771 of this title.