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 eligible. Additionally, the bill removes subdivision (4)(A)(iii) from the same section.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, emphasizing the importance of public welfare in its implementation. This legislative change aims to refine the criteria for drug court participation, potentially impacting the way drug-related offenses are addressed within the judicial system in Tennessee.

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