What's happening
This bill requires the chief court administrator to submit an annual report on the Drug Treatment Court Program's operations, funding, and staffing.
Why it matters
Increased Transparency and Accountability. By mandating annual reporting on the Drug Treatment Court Program’s administration and effectiveness, the bill ensures policymakers and the public have clearer insight into how these courts are operating and whether they are achieving their goals.
Detailed Financial Oversight. The required report must include a breakdown of all funding sources—state, local, federal, and other—used to support the Drug Treatment Court Program. This can help identify funding gaps, inefficiencies, or opportunities for better resource allocation.
Focus on Staffing and Community Involvement. By requiring information on drug court staffing and the participation of community service providers (including non-profits), the bill highlights the importance of adequate human resources and community partnerships in delivering effective drug treatment and rehabilitation services.
Potential for Informed Policy Improvements. Regular, comprehensive data on expenditures, staffing, and provider involvement gives legislators and stakeholders a stronger basis for making evidence-based decisions to improve the program, address shortcomings, or expand best practices statewide.
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Who cares
Chief administrator of the courts
Would have to submit an annual report by March 15 on the prior year’s administration, operation and effectiveness of all drug treatment courts in the state’s program.
- Likely support
Legislature and governor
Would receive an accounting of state, local, federal and other funds used to support the Drug Treatment Court Program.
Drug treatment court staff
The report would include available information on staffing levels.
Community service providers, including nonprofits
The report would include available information on their participation in providing treatment and other services to drug court participants.
Headline styles
Annual Drug Court Report Required
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.591
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Report on Drug Courts Required
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Jeffrion Aubry
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7638
IN SENATE
February 3, 2020
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 212 of the judiciary law is amended by adding a new paragraph (y) to read as follows:
(y) Submit annually, on or before the fifteenth day of March, to the legislature and the governor a report on the administration, function and effectiveness of all drug treatment courts operating in the state as part of the Drug Treatment Court Program during the preceding year. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, an accounting of expenditures of state, local, federal, and other funds utilized in support of the Drug Treatment Court Program. Such report shall also include available information on drug court staffing levels and levels of participation of community service providers, including non-profit organizations, who provided treatment or other services to drug court participants.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08078-03-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 or general idea of bill
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 offen- ders an opportunity to participate in treatment programs as an alterna- tive 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.
Prior legislative history
A.11942 Referred to Judiciary in 2006.
A.4414 Reported to Ways and Means in 2007 and passed Assembly in 2008.
A.3581 Passed Assembly in 2009 and 2010.
A.7629 Reported to Ways and Means in 2011 and 2012.
A.3403 Reported to Ways and Means in 2013 and 2014.
A.3299 Reported to Ways and Means in 2015 and 2016.
A.0203 Reported to Ways and Means in 2017.
A.3983 Referred to Judiciary in 2018.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.