House Bill 1471 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16, Chapter 22, which pertains to drug courts. The bill modifies the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking to participate in drug court programs by changing the language in Section 16-22-103(4)(A)(i). Specifically, it replaces the phrase "an offense, during" with "a felony offense within the previous ten (10) years, during," thereby clarifying that only those with felony offenses in the last decade are considered. Additionally, the bill removes subdivision (4)(A)(iii) from the same section.

The changes aim to refine the criteria for drug court eligibility, potentially impacting the number of individuals who can access these programs. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, contingent upon the public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-22-103(4)(A)(i), 16-22-103