AN ACT appropriating funds to create and support local judicially managed ACCOUNTABILITY and recovery costs.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts the sum of four million two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be used to create and sustain local judicially managed accountability and recovery courts authorized by Article 62 of Chapter 7A of the General Statutes, including drug treatment courts and other local judicially managed accountability and recovery courts exempted from the requirements of that Article pursuant to G.S. 7A‑802. The courts funded by this section shall primarily serve individuals diagnosed with alcoholism or other substance use and dependency disorders that are defendants in the criminal justice system. Among other functions, these courts shall recommend treatment plans for individuals served by these courts and shall monitor the progress of the individuals receiving treatment while the individuals remain under the jurisdiction of these courts.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts the sum of four million two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be used to facilitate the creation and funding of new and existing local judicially managed accountability and recovery courts authorized by Article 62 of Chapter 7A of the General Statutes, including drug treatment courts and other local judicially managed accountability and recovery courts exempted from the requirements of that Article pursuant to G.S. 7A‑802. The courts funded by this section shall primarily serve individuals that have a mental health diagnosis or treatment history and are defendants in the criminal justice system. Among other functions, these courts shall recommend mental health treatment plans for individuals served by these courts and shall monitor the progress of the individuals receiving treatment while the individuals remain under the jurisdiction of these courts.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2026.