S 0209 General Bill, By Sheheen

Similar(S 426, H 3412)
 A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO COURTS, BY ADDING
 CHAPTER 31, TO ESTABLISH A MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE FOR A
 SYSTEM THAT DIVERTS MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS TO APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS
 RATHER THAN INCARCERATION, TO PROVIDE FOR ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MENTAL
 HEALTH COURT, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SOLICITOR MUST ESTABLISH A PROGRAM, AND TO
 PROVIDE THAT SOLICITORS WHO ACCEPT STATE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM MUST
 ESTABLISH IT WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS.

   12/10/14  Senate Prefiled
   12/10/14  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/13/15  Senate Introduced and read first time
                     (Senate Journal-page 133)
   01/13/15  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 133)
   02/09/15  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Massey (ch), Bennett,
                     McElveen

TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO COURTS, BY ADDING CHAPTER 31, TO ESTABLISH A MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM THAT DIVERTS MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS TO APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS RATHER THAN INCARCERATION, TO PROVIDE FOR ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MENTAL HEALTH COURT, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SOLICITOR MUST ESTABLISH A PROGRAM, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SOLICITORS WHO ACCEPT STATE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM MUST ESTABLISH IT WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Title 14 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 14-31-10.    This chapter may be cited as the 'Mental Health Court Program Act'.

Section 14-31-20.    The purpose of this chapter is to divert qualifying mentally ill offenders away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate treatment programs, thereby reserving prison space for violent criminals and others for whom incarceration is the only reasonable alternative. Offenders with a diagnosed, or diagnosable, mental illness generally recognized in the psychiatric community qualify for participation in a mental health court program.

Section 14-31-30.    Each circuit solicitor may establish a mental health court program. Each circuit solicitor that accepts state funding for the implementation of a mental health treatment court program must establish and administer at least one mental health court program for the circuit within one hundred eighty days of receipt of funding. The circuit solicitor must administer the program and ensure that all eligible persons are permitted to apply for admission to the program."

SECTION    2.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION    3.    If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.