The bill amends Section 8-2-39.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-2, changing the terminology from "drug court" to "recovery court" throughout the section. This includes the creation of the position of recovery court magistrate, who will be appointed by the presiding justice of the superior court with the advice and consent of the senate. The recovery court magistrate will have a term of ten years and will preside over the adult recovery court, which aims to rehabilitate drug-addicted defendants through a combination of court authority and therapeutic measures.

The bill outlines the powers and responsibilities of the recovery court magistrate, including the authority to hear cases related to adult offenders participating in the recovery court, impose periods of incarceration, and determine admission into the program based on specific criteria. It establishes that individuals accepted into the recovery court will be bound by a recovery court contract detailing expectations and responsibilities. The recovery court magistrate will be governed by the commission on judicial ethics, and aggrieved parties will have the right to appeal decisions made by the recovery court magistrate to a superior court justice. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
3099: 8-2-39.2