Transfer Jurisdiction To Veteran's Speciality Court

Under current law, a court must inquire at the defendant's first appearance whether the defendant is a veteran. If the jurisdiction does not have a veteran's speciality court, the bill requires the court to inform a veteran defendant of the possibility of petitioning to transfer the case to a jurisdiction with a veteran's speciality court.

The bill allows a veteran defendant to petition to transfer the case to a jurisdiction with a veteran's speciality court if the jurisdiction does not have a veteran's speciality court. The petition must include the jurisdiction that the defendant is seeking to have the case transferred to and a description of the services or supports the defendant is seeking to access from the veteran's speciality court in that jurisdiction. After receiving a petition, the court must consult with the chief judge of the jurisdiction with the veteran's speciality court and administrator of that court, if any. The court shall grant the petition to transfer the case if the veteran's speciality court in that jurisdiction has the capacity to provide services and supports to the defendant.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)