SB 28: Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) court program.

This bill would establish new standards for treatment court programs, which are collaborative programs that combine treatment with court supervision for individuals struggling with addiction. A drug addiction expert would be required to conduct a substance abuse and mental health evaluation of defendants and submit the report to the court and parties. The bill would also remove a requirement for the judicial council to revise the standards of judicial administration, and instead require that treatment programs comply with existing judicial standards. Additionally, the bill would require that treatment programs be offered to individuals eligible for treatment under the treatment-mandated felony act, and declare the bill to take effect immediately.