The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
Proposed law authorizes mental health court treatment programs in Louisiana. Provides findings
relative to the impact of mental illness and substance abuse issues on the criminal justice system.
Proposed law provides definitions for terms related to mental health court treatment programs,
including mental health court program, mental health court professional, both pre- and post-
adjudicatory mental health court programs, combination programs, and co-occurring mental
illness and substance abuse issues.
Proposed law provides relative to eligibility for mental health court programs.
Proposed law provides criteria for exclusion from mental health court programs, including
enumerated crimes which require such exclusion:
(1)First and second degree murder
(2)Aggravated or criminal sexual assault (including sexual assault of a child).
(3)Armed robbery
(4)Arson
(5)Stalking
(6)Any offense involving discharge of a firearm.
Proposed law provides procedures to be utilized in operating a mental health court treatment
program, including a regimen of graduated requirements, rewards, and sanctions.
Proposed law provides for mental health court treatment programs to maintain or collaborate
with a network of programs which deal with mental illness and co-occurring mental illness and
substance abuse issues.
Effective August 1, 2013.
(Adds R.S. 13:5351-5358)