IL HB5003

Changes the Veterans and Servicemembers Court authorization from permissive ("may") to mandatory ("shall"), requiring the Chief Judge of each judicial circuit to establish a Veterans and Servicemembers Court program.

Allows the court to operate as either a separate court or as a program within an existing problem-solving court, such as a drug court or mental health court, at the Chief Judge's discretion.

Permits the Veterans and Servicemembers Court program to be operated in a single county within the circuit while allowing veteran and servicemember defendants from all counties in the circuit to participate.

Takes effect January 1, 2018.