Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB4212

Creates the Military and Veterans Court Act. Permits the Chief Judge of a judicial circuit to establish a military and veterans court program for veterans and active duty service members. Provides that in such judicial circuits, a veteran or active duty service member who has a substance abuse problem and who is subject to a criminal proceeding may with the consent of the prosecution and with the approval of the court be admitted into a military and veterans court program. Excludes from the program a veteran or active duty service member: charged with a crime of violence within the past 10 years, excluding incarceration time; who denies his or her use of or addiction to drugs; or who does not demonstrate a willingness to participate in a treatment program. Provides that the military and veterans court program shall include a regimen of graduated requirements, rewards and sanctions, including: fines, costs, restitution, public service employment, incarceration of up to 120 days, individual and group therapy, drug analysis testing, close court monitoring, educational or vocational counseling, and other requirements to fulfill the program. Provides for revocation and resentencing of the person who violates the conditions of the program or who engages in criminal conduct rendering the person unsuitable for the program, or who is not performing satisfactorily or not benefiting from the education, treatment or rehabilitation.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the same short title and substantially similar purpose provisions, except that a Military and Veterans Court Task Force is to study this subject. Creates a Military and Veterans Court Task Force comprised of members appointed as follows: one each by the Governor and Attorney General; one each by each legislative leader; one each by the law school deans of the John Marshall Law School, the Southern Illinois University School of Law, and the University of Illinois College of Law; one each by the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court in Cook County and the Third Judicial Circuit. Provides that Task Force members shall meet every other week, provide for participation through technology, be paid for their expenses only, prepare recommendations, and submit a report to the General Assembly by November 1, 2009. Provides that the Task Force shall disband on June 1, 2010. Effective immediately.

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