PRINTER'S NO.  381

  

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 AND FERLO, FEBRUARY 20, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009  

  

  

  

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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one or more problem solving courts which have specialized

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jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, drug courts, mental

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health courts and driving under the influence courts, whereby 

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defendants are admitted to a court-supervised individualized

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treatment program. The court may adopt local rules for the

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administration of problem solving courts and their related

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treatment services. The local rules may not be inconsistent with

 


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this section or any rules established by the Supreme Court.

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

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Supreme Court may appoint a Statewide problem solving courts

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coordinator. The 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 an

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interdisciplinary and interbranch advisory committee to advise

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and assist the Statewide problem solving courts coordinator in

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monitoring and administrating problem solving courts Statewide.

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

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