HB2554 - 522R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 12, chapter 1, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 12-137, to read:

START_STATUTE12-137. Veterans court; establishment; eligibility for referral; mandatory referral

A. The presiding judge of the superior court in each county shall establish a veterans court to adjudicate cases filed in the superior court, and, if a veterans court is not established pursuant to section 22‑601, to adjudicate cases filed in a justice court or a municipal court in the county.

B. the presiding judge of the superior court shall establish the eligibility criteria for REFERRAL to the veterans court. The criteria must include a mandatory REFERRAL requirement for any case that is filed against a veteran and that alleges only a violation of section 28‑1383, subsection A, paragraph 1, 2 or 4.

C. A judge who has jurisdiction over a case that meets the eligibility criteria may refer the case to the veterans court and shall refer a case that qualifies for mandatory referral pursuant to subsection B of this section to the veterans court.

D. The originating court shall notify the prosecutor of any criminal case referred to the veterans court.

Sec. 2. Section 22-601, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE22-601. Homeless, veterans and mental health courts; establishment; eligibility for referral; mandatory referral

A. The presiding judge of the superior court in each county may establish a homeless court, veterans court and mental health court to adjudicate cases filed in a justice court or a municipal court in the county.

B. The presiding judge of the superior court shall establish the eligibility criteria for referral to the homeless court, veterans court or mental health court. The criteria for a veterans court must include a mandatory referral requirement for any case that is filed against a veteran and that alleges only a violation of section 28‑1383, subsection A, paragraph 1, 2 or 4.

C. A justice of the peace or municipal court judge who has jurisdiction over a case that meets the eligibility criteria may refer the case to the homeless court, veterans court or mental health court and shall refer a case that qualifies for mandatory referral pursuant to subsection B of this section to the veterans court.

D. The originating court shall notify the prosecutor of any criminal case referred to the homeless court, veterans court or mental health court.

Sec. 3. Section 28-1383, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-1383. Aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence; violation; classification; definition

A. A person is guilty of aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs if the person does any of the following:

1. Commits a violation of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section while the person's driver license or privilege to drive is suspended, canceled, revoked or refused or while a restriction is placed on the person's driver license or privilege to drive as a result of violating section 28‑1381 or 28‑1382 or under section 28‑1385.

2. Within a period of eighty-four months commits a third or subsequent violation of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section or is convicted of a violation of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section and has previously been convicted of any combination of convictions of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section or acts in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section.

3. While a person under fifteen years of age is in the vehicle, commits a violation of either:

(a) Section 28‑1381.

(b) Section 28‑1382.

4. While the person is ordered by the court or required pursuant to section 28‑3319 by the department to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device, commits a violation of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section.

B. The dates of the commission of the offenses are the determining factor in applying the eighty-four month provision provided in subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section regardless of the sequence in which the offenses were committed. For the purposes of this section, a third or subsequent violation for which a conviction occurs does not include a conviction for an offense arising out of the same series of acts. The time that a probationer is found to be on absconder status or the time that a person is incarcerated in any state, federal, county or city jail or correctional facility is excluded when determining the eighty-four month period provided in subsection A, paragraph 2 and subsection E of this section.

C. The notice to a person of the suspension, cancellation, revocation or refusal of a driver license or privilege to drive is effective as provided in section 28‑3318 or pursuant to the laws of the state issuing the license.

D. A person is not eligible for probation, pardon, commutation or suspension of sentence or release on any other basis until the person has served not less than four months in prison if the person is convicted under either of the following:

1. Subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section.

2. Subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section and within an eighty-four month period has been convicted of two prior violations of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section, or any combination of those sections, or acts in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section.

E. A person who is convicted under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section and who within an eighty-four month period has been convicted of three or more prior violations of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section, or any combination of those sections, or acts in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28‑1381, section 28‑1382 or this section is not eligible for probation, pardon, commutation or suspension of sentence or release on any other basis until the person has served not less than eight months in prison.

F. A person who is convicted under subsection A, paragraph 3, subdivision (a) of this section shall serve at least the minimum term of incarceration required pursuant to section 28‑1381.

G. A person who is convicted under subsection A, paragraph 3, subdivision (b) of this section shall serve at least the minimum term of incarceration required pursuant to section 28‑1382.

H. A person who is convicted of a violation of this section shall attend and complete alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment from an approved facility. If the person fails to comply with this subsection and is placed on probation, in addition to the provisions of section 13‑901 the court may order that the person be incarcerated as a term of probation as follows:

1. For a person sentenced pursuant to subsection D of this section, for an individual period of not more than four months and a total period of not more than one year.

2. For a person sentenced pursuant to subsection E of this section, for an individual period of not more than eight months and a total period of not more than two years.

I. The time that a person spends in custody pursuant to subsection H of this section shall not be counted towards the sentence imposed if the person's probation is revoked and the person is sentenced to prison after revocation of probation.

J. On a conviction for a violation of this section, the court:

1. Shall report the conviction to the department. On receipt of the report, the department shall revoke the driving privilege of the person. The department shall not issue the person a new driver license within one year of the date of the conviction and shall require the person to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device pursuant to section 28‑3319. In addition, the court may order the person to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device for more than twenty‑four months beginning on the date of reinstatement of the person's driving privilege following a suspension or revocation or on the date of the department's receipt of the report of conviction, whichever occurs later. The person who operates a motor vehicle with a certified ignition interlock device under this paragraph shall comply with article 5 of this chapter.

2. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, shall order the person to pay an additional assessment of two hundred fifty dollars. If the conviction occurred in the superior court or a justice court, the court shall transmit the monies received pursuant to this paragraph to the county treasurer. If the conviction occurred in a municipal court, the court shall transmit the monies received pursuant to this paragraph to the city treasurer. The city or county treasurer shall transmit the monies received to the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall deposit the monies received in the driving under the influence abatement fund established by section 28‑1304. Any fine imposed for a violation of this section and any assessments, restitution and incarceration costs shall be paid before the assessment prescribed in this paragraph.

3. Shall order the person to pay a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars.

4. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, shall order the person to pay an additional assessment of one thousand five hundred dollars to be deposited by the state treasurer in the prison construction and operations fund established by section 41‑1651. This assessment is not subject to any surcharge. If the conviction occurred in the superior court or a justice court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the county treasurer. If the conviction occurred in a municipal court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the city treasurer. The city or county treasurer shall transmit the monies received to the state treasurer.

5. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, shall order the person to pay an additional assessment of one thousand five hundred dollars to be deposited by the state treasurer in the public safety equipment fund established by section 41-1723. This assessment is not subject to any surcharge. If the conviction occurred in the superior court or a justice court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the county treasurer. If the conviction occurred in a municipal court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the city treasurer. The city or county treasurer shall transmit the monies received to the state treasurer.

K. After completing the period of suspension required by section 28‑1385, a person whose driving privilege is revoked for a violation of subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section may apply to the department for a special ignition interlock restricted driver license pursuant to section 28‑1401.

L. Aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs committed under:

1. Subsection A, paragraph 1, 2 or 4 of this section is a class 4 felony.

2. Subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section is a class 6 felony.

M. Notwithstanding subsections D and E of this section, the court may defer all mandatory incarceration requirements for a defendant who is under the jurisdiction of a veterans court and who is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the defendant's probation or supervision. The deferment is permanent after the defendant successfully completes all of the defendant's terms and conditions of probation or supervision.

M. N. For the purposes of this section, "suspension, cancellation, revocation or refusal" means any suspension, cancellation, revocation or refusal. END_STATUTE