HB71 Summary

• Creates the Accountability Court Commission within the judicial branch as an agency of the Alabama Supreme Court to oversee drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, and pretrial diversion programs.

• Commission shall develop statewide evaluation plans, establish evidence-based best practices, monitor diversion programs, maintain a participant database, and make recommendations for program improvements.

• Commission membership includes 14 voting members appointed by various authorities including judges, district attorneys, state bar members, the Attorney General, and representatives from mental health and veterans affairs departments.

• Each diversion program must collect and submit monthly data to the commission by the 15th of each month, including participant numbers, completion rates, new criminal offenses, violations, and detailed participant information.

• Commission shall adopt a transition plan by January 1, 2022, for all existing pretrial diversion programs to align with evidence-based best practices, and shall report collected information annually to both judiciary committees and the Administrative Director of Courts.