00Enrolled HB 451                                                                                                         
01 Relating to therapeutic courts; and providing for an effective date.                                                    
02                           _______________                                                                               
03    * Section 1.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska enacted in sec. 1(b), ch. 64, SLA                          
04 2001, is amended to read:                                                                                               
05            (b)  The Alaska Court System shall establish two pilot sites for therapeutic                                 
06       courts for alcohol- and drug-addicted offenders in Anchorage and Bethel; the                                      
07       Anchorage therapeutic court shall commence on the effective date of this section; the                             
08       Bethel therapeutic court shall commence on January 2, 2002; the pilot programs shall                              
09       end June 30, 2006 [THREE YEARS AFTER THE DATE EACH COURT                                                      
10       COMMENCES].  The Alaska Court System will designate one superior court judge in                                   
11       Anchorage and one superior court judge in Bethel to preside over the therapeutic                                  
12       courts.  Under the leadership of these judges, all parties involved in the                                        
13       implementation of the therapeutic court process shall regularly meet to consult about                             
14       the conduct and improvement of the process.  The pilot programs shall be                                          
15       implemented by the joint efforts of the Alaska Court System, the Department of Law,                               

01       the Public Defender Agency, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Health                               
02       and Social Services, and other agencies in accordance with a mutually agreed-upon                                 
03       plan.  To the extent feasible, the therapeutic courts shall use existing public agencies,                         
04       medical and treatment services, housing, and other public, private, and nonprofit                                 
05       community services; the pilot program in Bethel shall also consult and coordinate                                 
06       services with municipal and other local entities to facilitate the successful reintegration                       
07       of offenders into municipalities and other locales outside of Bethel.  Each therapeutic                           
08       court shall be adapted to fit the available local resources and cultural traditions.                              
09    * Sec. 2.  Sections 3, 5(b), and 6, ch. 64, SLA 2001, are repealed.                                                
10    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).