Senate Bill S1717

                                BILL NUMBER:S1717

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the judiciary law, in relation to requiring the chief
administrator of the courts to submit an annual report on the Drug
Treatment Court Program

PURPOSE:
This legislation would require the chief administrator of the courts
to report annually to the legislature and the governor about the
function and effectiveness of the Drug Courts Treatment Program.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill amends section 212 of the judiciary law to require the Chief
administrator of the courts to report annually to the legislature and
the governor about the function and effectiveness of drug courts in
the state operating as part of the Drug Courts Treatment Program.

JUSTIFICATION:
Drug treatment courts are currently operating in criminal and family
courts throughout the state. These courts offer non-violent drug
offenders an opportunity to participate in treatment programs as an
alternative to incarceration. In many cases, community services
organizations provide the required treatment to drug court
participants. However, many of these community service providers
              

suffer from a lack of resources and they are generally not able to
access funding through the Drug Courts Treatment Program. This bill
requires the Office of Court Administration to report to the governor
and the legislature regarding the function of the drug courts,
including information about the participation level of community
service providers. This information will better enable the
legislature to determine and realize the necessity of increased
funding for the community service providers that play a vital role in
the success of the Drug Courts Treatment Program.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
02/20/09 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
01/06/10 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
02/09/10 1ST REPORT CAL. 122
02/22/10 2ND REPORT CAL.
02/23/10 ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
02/24/10 SUBSTITUTED BY A.3581
A.3581 Aubry
01/27/09 referred to judiciary
06/02/09 Reported referred to ways and means
06/08/09 reported referred to rules
06/10/09 reported
06/10/09 rules report cal. 120
06/10/09 ordered to third reading rules cal. 120
06/10/09 passed assembly
06/10/09 delivered to senate
06/11/09 REFERRED TO RULES
01/06/10 DIED IN SENATE
01/06/10 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
01/06/10 ordered to third reading cal. 271


02/23/10 passed assembly
02/23/10 delivered to senate
02/23/10 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
02/24/10 SUBSTITUTED FOR S.2459
02/24/10 3RD READING CAL. 122

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There may be some administrative costs to the Office of Court
Administration.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.