ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: GOV DPA 7-0-0-0

HB 2843: veterans' court fund; grant program

Sponsor: Representative Travers, LD 12

Caucus & COW

Overview

Establishes the Veteran's Specialty Court Grant Program and its reporting requirements.

History

The presiding judge of the superior court can establish a Veterans' Court to adjudicate cases filed in a justice or municipal court of the county. The presiding judge of the superior court must establish eligibility criteria for referral to a Veterans' Court. A justice of the peace or municipal court judge with jurisdiction over a case that meets eligibility requirements can refer it to the Veterans' Court (A.R.S. § 22-601, AZ DVS).

Provisions

1. Creates the Veterans' Specialty Court Grant Program (Grant Program) for municipalities and counties to establish Veterans' Court Programs. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires the Attorney General to administer the Grant Program. (Sec. 1)

3. Prohibits any Veterans' Court Program established pursuant to this act from interfering with a Veterans' Court established by existing law or other court programs for veterans. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires the Grant Program to support rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans as contributing members of their communities. (Sec. 1)

5. Requires the Grant Program to promote collaboration among prosecutors, defense counsels, judges, community-based support organizations, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Arizona Department of Veterans' Services. (Sec. 1)

6. Requires the Grant Program to develop and oversee individualized treatment plans addressing underlying causes of justice-involved veterans' behavior including:

a) post traumatic stress disorder;

b) traumatic brain injury;

c) anger management;

d) domestic violence prevention and intervention; and

e) alcohol and drug abuse treatment. (Sec. 1)

7. Establishes the Veterans' Treatment Court Fund (Fund) consisting of legislative appropriations and requires the Attorney General to administer it. (Sec. 1)

8. Specifies monies in the Fund are continuously appropriated and can be used by municipalities and counties to establish a Veterans' Specialty Court Program. (Sec. 1)

9. Requires Fund applicants to submit an application form as prescribed by the Attorney General. (Sec. 1)

10. Requires the grant money to be awarded annually to grantees and allows it to be used for relevant administrative cost including hiring personnel to establish and maintain a Veterans' Specialty Court Program. (Sec. 1)

11. Requires the Attorney General to collaborate with relevant stakeholders including county attorneys, prosecutors and public defenders to establish best practices for administration and data collection of Veteran's Courts. (Sec. 1)

12. Requires grantees on or before December 31 of each year to submit a report to the Attorney General with the following information:

a) number of veterans served, separated by type of offense, demographics and military service history;

b) arrest and recidivism rates among Veterans' Court Program participants;

c) veteran's Court Program completion rates and participation outcomes;

d) use of mental health and substance treatment services; and

e) recommendations for Veterans' Court Program and veterans' specialty court grant program improvement. (Sec. 1)

13. Requires the Attorney General submit a report on or before March 1 of each year to the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives that analyzes data submitted in the previous provision and provides the following information:

a) statewide data on Veterans' Court Programs with grantee reported metrics on participation, recidivism and treatment outcomes;

b) challenges and barriers to Veterans' Court Program implementation based on grantee feedback and data;

c) recommendations for enhancing the identification and assessment of veterans within the criminal justice system including best practices for data collection and cross agency collaboration; and

d) policy and funding recommendations to improve effectiveness and sustainability of Veterans' Court Programs and the Grant Program. (Sec. 1)

14. Appropriates $4,000,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2026 to the Grant Program. (Sec. 2)

15. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 2)

Amendments

Committee on Government

1. Changes the appropriation to an undesignated amount. (Sec. 2)

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5. HB 2843

6. Initials JH/MB Page 0 Caucus & COW

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