An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in sen, the official text

PRINTER'S NO.  430
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
475
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, BAKER, STREET, TARTAGLIONE AND
HAYWOOD, MARCH 19, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 19, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in organization and
jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for
problem-solving courts; and, in sentencing, further providing
for modification or revocation of order of probation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.  Sections 916 and 9771(c)(2)(iv)(B) of Title 42 of
the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 916.  [Problem-solving] Treatment courts.
(a)  Establishment.--The court of common pleas of a judicial
district and the Municipal Court of Philadelphia may establish,
from available funds, one or more [problem-solving] treatment
courts which have specialized jurisdiction, including, but not
limited to, veterans courts, drug courts, mental health courts
and driving under the influence courts, whereby defendants are
admitted to a court-supervised individualized treatment program.
The court may adopt local rules for the administration of
[problem-solving] treatment courts and their related treatment
services. The local rules may not be inconsistent with this
section or any rules established by the Supreme Court.
(b)  Statewide [problem-solving] treatment courts
coordinator.--To the extent that funds are available, the
Supreme Court may appoint a Statewide [problem-solving]
treatment courts coordinator. The coordinator may:
(1)  Encourage and assist in the establishment of
[problem-solving] treatment courts in each judicial district.
(2)  Identify sources of funding for [problem-solving]
treatment courts and their related treatment services,
including the availability of grants.
(3)  Provide coordination and technical assistance for
grant applications.
(4)  Develop model guidelines for the administration of
[problem-solving] treatment courts and their related
treatment services.
(5)  Establish procedures for monitoring [problem-
solving] treatment courts and their related treatment
services and for evaluating the effectiveness of [problem-
solving] treatment courts and their related treatment
services.
(c)  Advisory committee.--The Supreme Court may establish,
from available funds, an interdisciplinary and interbranch
advisory committee to advise and assist the Statewide [problem-
solving] treatment courts coordinator in monitoring and
administrating [problem-solving] treatment courts Statewide.
(d)  Veterans courts.--
(1)  If a court of common pleas of a judicial district or
the Municipal Court of Philadelphia has established a
veterans court under subsection (a), the court may provide
for participation by defendants from another county or
counties.
(2)  A court of common pleas of a judicial district or
the Municipal Court of Philadelphia may join with the court
in another county or counties to establish a multicounty
veterans court.
(e)  Veterans track.--If a court of common pleas of a
judicial district or the Municipal Court of Philadelphia
established a [problem-solving] treatment court under subsection
(a), except for a veterans court, the court may establish a
veterans track within the [problem-solving] treatment court. As
used in this subsection, the term "veterans track" means a
program that utilizes some components of a veterans court,
including, but not limited to, treatment resources and veteran
mentors and does not have the population and judicial resources
to sustain a full veterans court.
(f)  Local rules.--A court of common pleas of a judicial
district or the Municipal Court of Philadelphia that established
a veterans court, multicounty veterans court or veterans track
under this section may adopt local rules for the administration
of the courts and their related treatment services. The local
rules may not be inconsistent with this section or any rules
established by the Supreme Court.
§ 9771.  Modification or revocation of order of probation.
* * *
(c)  Limitation on sentence of total confinement.--There is a
presumption against total confinement for technical violations
of probation. The following shall apply:
* * *
(2)  If a court imposes a sentence of total confinement
following a revocation, the basis of which is for one or more
technical violations under paragraph (1)(ii) or (iii), the
court shall consider the employment status of the defendant.
The defendant shall be sentenced as follows:
* * *
(iv)  The time limitations contained in this
paragraph shall not apply to the extent that a reasonable
term of additional total confinement, not to exceed 30
days, is necessary to allow a defendant to either be
evaluated for or to participate in:
* * *
(B)  a [problem-solving] treatment court provided
for in section 916 (relating to [problem-solving]
treatment courts).
* * *
Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 90 days.