AN ACT to create and support local drug treatment court programs and mental health court programs and to appropriate funds.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated the sum of four million two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000) in recurring funds for each fiscal year of the 2023‑2025 fiscal biennium from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts to be used to support the work of the North Carolina Drug Treatment Court Program in creating and sustaining local drug treatment court programs.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated the sum of four million two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000) in recurring funds for each fiscal year of the 2023‑2025 fiscal biennium from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts to be used to facilitate the creation and funding of new and existing mental health court programs to serve individuals that have a mental health diagnosis or treatment history and are defendants in the criminal justice system. Among other functions, the local mental health court programs funded by this section shall recommend mental health treatment plans for individuals served by the programs and shall monitor the progress of the individuals receiving treatment while the individuals remain in the program.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.