House Bill No. 1831 amends the Government Code to clarify the eligibility criteria for participation in various drug court programs. The bill allows commissioners courts or municipal governing bodies to establish drug courts for individuals arrested, charged, or convicted of offenses related to alcohol or controlled substances. It specifically outlines that juveniles may participate in drug court programs unless the state attorney consents, particularly for conduct involving the use of firearms or resulting in serious bodily injury or death. The bill also removes previous restrictions on juvenile eligibility related to certain offenses.

Additionally, the bill mandates that counties with populations over 200,000 must establish a drug court program and ensure compliance with existing regulations. The changes in law will apply to juveniles entering drug court programs regardless of when the conduct occurred, and the act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 123.002, Government Code 123.006 (Government Code 123)