HB3850 Summary

• Amends the Drug Court Treatment Act to require validated clinical assessments addressing substance use, mental health, and behavioral health needs, with individualized Clinical Treatment Plans developed based on available treatment resources.

• Prohibits drug courts from denying participants medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction and clarifies participants cannot be required to refrain from such treatment as a condition of program completion.

• Establishes peer recovery coach programs in drug courts, veterans courts, and mental health courts with trained mentors who have lived experience and help participants achieve independence after court support ends.

• Adds provisions allowing State's Attorneys to move to vacate eligible convictions upon successful program completion, with defendants permitted to immediately file expungement petitions and legal aid organizations available to assist with the process.

• Requires education seminars conducted by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and State's Attorney/Public Defender offices to train judges, prosecutors, and public defenders on operating treatment courts and addressing substance abuse, addiction, and mental health issues.