Bill Text: CT HB05252 | 2010 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Pretrial Alcohol Education Program And The Pretrial Drug Education Program.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)
Status: (Passed) 2010-05-10 - Signed by the Governor [HB05252 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2010-HB05252-Chaptered.html
AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRETRIAL ALCOHOL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE PRETRIAL DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 54-56g of the 2010 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(a) There shall be a pretrial alcohol education program for persons charged with a violation of section 14-227a, 14-227g, 15-132a, 15-133, 15-140l or 15-140n. Upon application by any such person for participation in such [system] program and payment to the court of an application fee of one hundred dollars and a nonrefundable evaluation fee of one hundred dollars, the court shall, but only as to the public, order the court file sealed, provided such person states under oath, in open court or before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under penalties of perjury that: (1) If such person is charged with a violation of section 14-227a, such person has not had such [system] program invoked in such person's behalf within the preceding ten years for a violation of section 14-227a, (2) if such person is charged with a violation of section 14-227g, such person has never had such [system] program invoked in such person's behalf for a violation of section 14-227a or 14-227g, (3) such person has not been convicted of a violation of section 53a-56b or 53a-60d, a violation of subsection (a) of section 14-227a before or after October 1, 1981, or a violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227a on or after October 1, 1985, and (4) such person has not been convicted in any other state at any time of an offense the essential elements of which are substantially the same as section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227a. Unless good cause is shown, a person shall be ineligible for participation in such pretrial alcohol education [system] program if such person's alleged violation of section 14-227a or 14-227g caused the serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, of another person. The application fee imposed by this subsection shall be credited to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund established by section 54-215. The evaluation fee imposed by this subsection shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act.
(b) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in charge of the case, may, in its discretion, grant such application. If the court grants such application, the court shall refer such person to the Court Support Services Division for assessment and confirmation of the eligibility of the applicant and to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for evaluation. The Court Support Services Division, in making its assessment and confirmation, may rely on the representations made by the applicant under oath in open court with respect to convictions in other states of offenses specified in subsection (a) of this section. Upon confirmation of eligibility and receipt of the evaluation report, the defendant shall be referred to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services by the Court Support Services Division for placement in an appropriate alcohol intervention program for one year, or be placed in a state-licensed substance abuse treatment program. The alcohol intervention program shall include a ten-session intervention program and a fifteen-session intervention program. Any person who enters the [system] pretrial alcohol education program shall agree: (1) To the tolling of the statute of limitations with respect to such crime, (2) to a waiver of such person's right to a speedy trial, (3) to complete ten or fifteen counseling sessions in an alcohol intervention program or successfully complete a substance abuse treatment program of not less than twelve sessions pursuant to this section dependent upon the evaluation report and the court order, (4) to commence participation in an alcohol intervention program or substance abuse treatment program not later than ninety days after the date of entry of the court order unless granted a delayed entry into a program by the court, (5) upon completion of participation in the alcohol intervention program, to accept placement in a substance abuse treatment program upon the recommendation of a provider under contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services pursuant to subsection (f) of this section or placement in a state-licensed substance abuse treatment program which meets standards established by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, if the Court Support Services Division deems it appropriate, and (6) if ordered by the court, to participate in at least one victim impact panel. The suspension of the motor vehicle operator's license of any such person pursuant to section 14-227b shall be effective during the period such person is participating in [such] the pretrial alcohol education program, provided such person shall have the option of not commencing the participation in such program until the period of such suspension is completed. If the Court Support Services Division informs the court that the defendant is ineligible for [the system] such program and the court makes a determination of ineligibility or if the program provider certifies to the court that the defendant did not successfully complete the assigned program or is no longer amenable to treatment and such person does not [pursue] request, or the court denies, program reinstatement under subsection (e) of this section, the court shall order the court file to be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for such defendant and immediately place the case on the trial list. If such defendant satisfactorily completes the assigned program, such defendant may apply for dismissal of the charges against such defendant and the court, on reviewing the record of the defendant's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support Services Division and on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges. If the defendant does not apply for dismissal of the charges against such defendant after satisfactorily completing the assigned program the court, upon receipt of the record of the defendant's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support Services Division, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss the charges. Upon motion of the defendant and a showing of good cause, the court may extend the one-year placement period for a reasonable period for the defendant to complete the assigned program. A record of participation in such program shall be retained by the Court Support Services Division for a period of [seven] ten years from the date [of] the court grants the application for participation in such program. The Court Support Services Division shall transmit to the Department of Motor Vehicles a record of participation in such program for each person who satisfactorily completes such program. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain for a period of ten years the record of a person's participation in such program as part of such person's driving record. The Court Support Services Division shall transmit to the Department of Environmental Protection the record of participation of any person who satisfactorily completes such program who has been charged with a violation of the provisions of section 15-132a, 15-133, 15-140l or 15-140n. The Department of Environmental Protection shall maintain for a period of ten years the record of a person's participation in such program as a part of such person's boater certification record.
(c) At the time the court grants the application for participation in the pretrial alcohol [intervention] education program, such person shall also pay to the court a nonrefundable program fee of three hundred fifty dollars if such person is ordered to participate in the ten-session intervention program and a nonrefundable program fee of five hundred dollars if such person is ordered to participate in the fifteen-session intervention program. If the court grants the application for participation in the pretrial alcohol education program and such person is ordered to participate in a substance abuse treatment program, such person shall be responsible for the costs associated with participation in such program. No person may be excluded from either program for inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a treatment program, the costs of such program shall be paid [for] from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for an intervention program, the court may waive all or any portion of the fee for such intervention program. If the court denies the application, such person shall not be required to pay the program fee. If the court grants the application [,] and such person is later determined to be ineligible for participation in such pretrial alcohol education [system] program or fails to complete the assigned program, the program fee shall not be refunded. All program fees shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act.
(d) If a person returns to court with certification from a program provider that such person did not successfully complete the assigned program or is no longer amenable to treatment, the provider, to the extent practicable, shall include a recommendation to the court as to whether a ten-session intervention program, a fifteen-session intervention program or placement in a state-licensed [alcohol] substance abuse treatment program would best serve such person's needs. The provider shall also indicate whether the current program referral was an initial referral or a reinstatement to the program.
(e) When a person subsequently requests reinstatement into an alcohol intervention program or a substance abuse treatment program and the Court Support Services Division verifies that such person is eligible for reinstatement into such program and thereafter the court favorably acts on such request, such person shall pay a nonrefundable program fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars if ordered to complete a ten-session intervention program or two hundred fifty dollars if ordered to complete a fifteen-session intervention program, as the case may be. Unless good cause is shown, such fees shall not be waived. If the court grants a person's request to be reinstated into a treatment program, such person shall be responsible for the costs, if any, associated with being reinstated into the treatment program. All program fees collected in connection with a reinstatement to an intervention program shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act. No person shall be permitted more than two program reinstatements pursuant to this subsection.
(f) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall contract with service providers, develop standards and oversee appropriate alcohol programs to meet the requirements of this section. Said department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to establish standards for such alcohol programs. Any person ordered to participate in a treatment program shall do so at a state-licensed treatment program which meets the standards established by said department. Any defendant whose employment or residence makes it unreasonable to attend an alcohol intervention program or a substance abuse treatment program in this state may attend a program in another state which has standards substantially similar to, or higher than, those of this state, subject to the approval of the court and payment of the application, evaluation and program fees and treatment costs, as appropriate, as provided in this section.
(g) The court may, as a condition of granting such application, require that such person participate in a victim impact panel program approved by the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Department. Such victim impact panel program shall provide a nonconfrontational forum for the victims of alcohol-related or drug-related offenses and offenders to share experiences on the impact of alcohol-related or drug-related incidents in their lives. Such victim impact panel program shall be conducted by a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of victims of accidents caused by persons who operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both. Such organization may assess a participation fee of not more than seventy-five dollars on any person required by the court to participate in such program, provided such organization shall offer a hardship waiver when it has determined that the imposition of a fee would pose an economic hardship for such person.
(h) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable in the case of any person charged with a violation of section 14-227a while operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1.
Sec. 2. Section 54-56i of the 2010 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(a) There is established a pretrial drug education program for persons charged with a violation of section 21a-267 or 21a-279. The drug education program shall include a ten-session drug intervention program, a fifteen-session drug intervention program and a [drug] substance abuse treatment program.
(b) Upon application by any such person for participation in such program and payment to the court of an application fee of one hundred dollars and a nonrefundable evaluation fee of one hundred dollars, the court shall, but only as to the public, order the court file sealed provided such person states under oath, in open court or before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under penalties of perjury, that such person has never had such program invoked in such person's behalf. A person shall be ineligible for participation in such pretrial drug education program if such person has previously participated in the eight-session, ten-session or fifteen-session drug education program, or substance abuse treatment program established under this section or the pretrial community service labor program established under section 53a-39c. The evaluation and application fee [required pursuant to] imposed by this subsection shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act.
(c) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in charge of the case, may, in its discretion, grant such application. If the court grants such application, the court shall refer such person to the Court Support Services Division for confirmation of the eligibility of the applicant and to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for evaluation.
(d) Upon confirmation of eligibility and receipt of the evaluation required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, such person shall be referred to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services by the Court Support Services Division for placement in the drug education program. Participants in the drug education program shall receive appropriate drug intervention services or substance abuse treatment program services, as recommended by the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and ordered by the court. Placement in the drug education program pursuant to this section shall not exceed one year. Persons receiving substance abuse treatment program services in accordance with the provisions of this section shall only receive such services at state licensed substance abuse treatment program facilities that are in compliance with all state standards governing the operation of such facilities. Any person who enters the program shall agree: (1) To the tolling of the statute of limitations with respect to such crime; (2) to a waiver of such person's right to a speedy trial; (3) to complete participation in the ten-session drug intervention program, fifteen-session drug intervention program or substance abuse treatment program, as recommended by the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and ordered by the court; (4) to commence participation in the drug education program not later than ninety days after the date of entry of the court order unless granted a delayed entry into the program by the court; and (5) upon completion of participation in the pretrial drug education program, to accept placement in a treatment program upon the recommendation of a provider under contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or placement in a treatment program that has standards substantially similar to, or higher than, a program of a provider under contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services if the Court Support Services Division deems it appropriate. The [department] Court Support Services Division shall require as a condition of participation in the drug education program that any person participating in the ten-session drug intervention program or the substance abuse treatment program also participate in the community service labor program, established pursuant to section 53a-39c, for not less than five days; and that any person participating in the fifteen-session drug intervention program also participate in said community service labor program, for not less than ten days.
(e) If the Court Support Services Division informs the court that such person is ineligible for the program and the court makes a determination of ineligibility or if the program provider certifies to the court that such person did not successfully complete the assigned program and such person did not [pursue] request, or the court denied, reinstatement in the program under subsection (i) of this section, the court shall order the court file to be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for such person and immediately place the case on the trial list.
(f) If such person satisfactorily completes the assigned program, such person may apply for dismissal of the charges against such person and the court, on reviewing the record of such person's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support Services Division and on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges. If such person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against such person after satisfactorily completing the assigned program, the court, upon receipt of the record of such person's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support Services Division, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss the charges. Upon motion of such person and a showing of good cause, the court may extend the placement period for a reasonable period for such person to complete the assigned program. A record of participation in such program shall be retained by the Court Support Services Division for a period of ten years from the date [of] the court grants the application for participation in the program.
(g) At the time the court grants the application for participation in the pretrial drug education program, such person shall pay to the court a nonrefundable program fee of three hundred fifty dollars if such person is ordered to participate in the ten-session drug intervention program or five hundred dollars if such person is ordered to participate in the fifteen-session drug intervention program. If the court orders participation in a [drug] substance abuse treatment program, such person shall be responsible for the costs associated with such program. No person may be excluded from any such program for inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. The court may waive all or any portion of such fee depending on such person's ability to pay. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a treatment program, the costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act. If the court denies the application, such person shall not be required to pay the program fee. If the court grants the application, and such person is later determined to be ineligible for participation in such pretrial drug education program or fails to complete the assigned program, the program [fees] fee shall not be refunded. All [such] program fees shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act.
(h) If a person returns to court with certification from a program provider that such person did not successfully complete the assigned program or is no longer amenable to treatment, the provider, to the extent practicable, shall include a recommendation to the court as to whether a ten-session drug intervention program, a fifteen-session drug intervention program or placement in a substance abuse treatment program would best serve such person's needs. The provider shall also indicate whether the current program referral was an initial referral or a reinstatement to the program.
(i) When a person subsequently requests reinstatement into a drug intervention program or a substance abuse treatment program and the Court Support Services Division verifies that such person is eligible for reinstatement into such program and thereafter the court favorably acts on such request, such person shall pay a nonrefundable program fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars if ordered to complete a ten-session drug intervention program or two hundred fifty dollars if ordered to complete a fifteen-session drug intervention program, as the case may be. Unless good cause is shown, such fees shall not be waived. If the court grants a person's request to be reinstated into a [drug] substance abuse treatment program, such person shall be responsible for the costs, if any, associated with being reinstated into the treatment program. All program fees collected in connection with a reinstatement to a drug intervention program shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k, as amended by this act. No person shall be permitted more than two program reinstatements pursuant to this subsection.
(j) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall develop standards and oversee appropriate drug education programs to meet the requirements of this section and may contract with service providers to provide such programs. The department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to establish standards for such drug education programs.
(k) Any person whose employment or residence or schooling makes it unreasonable to attend a drug intervention program or substance abuse treatment program in this state may attend a program in another state that has standards similar to, or higher than, those of this state, subject to the approval of the court and payment of the program fee or costs as provided in this section.
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 14-227j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(b) Any person who has been arrested for a violation of subsection (a) of section 14-227a, section 53a-56b, or section 53a-60d, may be ordered by the court not to operate any motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with an ignition interlock device. Any such order may be made as a condition of such person's release on bail, as a condition of probation or as a condition of granting such person's application for participation in the pretrial alcohol education [system] program under section 54-56g, as amended by this act, and may include any other terms and conditions as to duration, use, proof of installation or any other matter that the court determines to be appropriate or necessary.
Sec. 4. Subsection (d) of section 17a-485b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(d) Within the limits of available appropriations, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide for such staff and other administrative support as may be required by the board for the purposes of sections 17a-485 to 17a-485c, inclusive, subsection (h) of section 8-395, [subsection (c) of] section 54-56g, as amended by this act, [subsection (g) of] section 54-56i, as amended by this act, section 54-56k, as amended by this act, and sections 4, 7, 11 and 12 of public act 01-8 of the June special session.
Sec. 5. Section 54-66a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
Any bail bond posted in any criminal proceeding in this state shall be automatically terminated and released whenever the defendant: (1) Is granted accelerated rehabilitation pursuant to section 54-56e; (2) is granted admission to the pretrial alcohol education [system] program pursuant to section 54-56g, as amended by this act; (3) is granted admission to the pretrial family violence education program pursuant to section 46b-38c; (4) is granted admission to the community service labor program pursuant to section 53a-39c; (5) is granted admission to the pretrial drug education program pursuant to section 54-56i, as amended by this act; (6) has the complaint or information filed against such defendant dismissed; (7) is acquitted; (8) is sentenced by the court; (9) is granted admission to the pretrial school violence prevention program pursuant to section 54-56j; or (10) is charged with a violation of section 29-33 and prosecution has been suspended pursuant to subsection (h) of section 29-33.
Sec. 6. Section 54-56k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(a) There is established an account to be known as the pretrial account. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account and shall be a separate, nonlapsing account of the General Fund. Investment earnings credited to the account shall become part of the assets of the account. Any balance remaining in said account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the account for the next fiscal year.
(b) There shall be deposited in the pretrial account all evaluation fees collected pursuant to subsection (a) of section 54-56g, as amended by this act, and subsection (b) of section 54-56i, as amended by this act, and all program fees collected pursuant to [subsection] subsections (c) and (e) of section 54-56g, as amended by this act, and [subsection] subsections (g) and (i) of section 54-56i, as amended by this act, and funds appropriated in subsection (a) of section 47 of special act 01-1 of the June special session.
(c) Amounts in the pretrial account shall be available to fund the cost of operating the pretrial alcohol and drug education programs established under sections 54-56g, as amended by this act, and 54-56i, as amended by this act.
Approved May 10, 2010