This bill amends the Louisiana Revised Statutes concerning the drug division probation program, specifically R.S. 13:5304, by introducing new eligibility criteria and conditions for participation. Defendants must now undergo a clinical screening by knowledgeable staff and provide detailed personal information to assess their suitability for the program. Additionally, it clarifies that defendants must waive their right to a trial if accepted into the program and outlines probation conditions, which may include long-term residential treatment or community-based outpatient treatment. The bill also repeals previous eligibility provisions and emphasizes the judge's role in determining eligibility based on recommendations from treatment professionals and the district attorney.

Moreover, the bill modifies the evaluation and reporting processes for drug division programs by replacing the requirement for evaluations by "licensed treatment professionals" with a mandate for "drug division probation program staff" to be certified by the court. It removes the previous requirement for drug divisions to develop their own evaluation methods, instead mandating standardized process and outcome measures as established by the Louisiana Supreme Court Drug and Specialty Court Office. The bill also requires annual reports on program effectiveness to be submitted to the judicial administrator of the Supreme Court of Louisiana and repeals a specific section of existing law, R.S. 13:5304(B)(10.1), indicating a significant shift in the evaluation and reporting framework for these programs.

Statutes affected:
HB864 Original: 13:5304(B)(1), 13:5304(B)(10, 13:1)
HB864 Engrossed: 13:5304(B)(1), 13:5304(B)(10, 13:1)
HB864 Reengrossed: 13:5304(B)(3), 13:5304(B)(10, 13:1)
HB864 Enrolled: 13:5304(B)(3), 13:5304(B)(10, 13:1)
HB864 Act : 13:5304(B)(3), 13:5304(B)(10, 13:1)