SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1983
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Ways & Means, February 23, 2024
Title: An act relating to the criminal justice treatment account.
Brief Description: Concerning the criminal justice treatment account.
Sponsors: Representatives Simmons, Goodman, Reed and Davis.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/8/24, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 2/20/24, 2/23/24 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Revises the allowable uses of the Criminal Justice Treatment Account to include the provision of services to individuals for 180 days following graduation from drug court programs.
  • Removes expired provisions of the Criminal Justice Treatment Account. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Robinson, Chair; Mullet, Vice Chair, Capital; Nguyen, Vice Chair, Operating; Wilson, L., Ranking Member, Operating; Gildon, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Schoesler, Ranking Member, Capital; Rivers, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Warnick, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Billig, Boehnke, Braun, Conway, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Muzzall, Pedersen, Randall, Saldaña, Torres, Van De Wege, Wagoner and Wellman.
Staff: Corban Nemeth (786-7736)
Background:

Funds in the Criminal Justice Treatment Account (Account) may be expended for substance use disorder treatment and support services for offenders meeting certain criteria and for nonviolent offenders within a drug court program. Appropriations from the Account to the Health Care Authority are distributed to counties.  The funds may also be used for the administrative and overhead costs associated with the operation of a drug court. During the 2021-23 and 2023-25 fiscal biennia, the use of funds has been temporarily broadened in the operating budgets to allow funds in the Account to be used for the provision of services to individuals for 180 days following graduation from drug court programs. The Legislature may appropriate from the Account for municipal drug courts and increased treatment options.
Summary of Bill:

The Account is revised to allow funds in the Account to be used for the provision of services for 180 days following graduation from drug court programs beyond the 2023-25 fiscal biennium. The authority for the Legislature to appropriate from the Account for municipal drug courts and increased treatment options is removed. Expired provisions of the Account are removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: This bill makes ongoing provisions of the last few operating budgets. The ramp down of services provided to those graduating from a drug court enabled by this bill are important, as otherwise those who graduate from programs are faced with a fiscal cliff and may be unable to continue treatment. Drug courts are a proven method to reduce recidivism, and this provision, which has been in effect since the pandemic, has been effective.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Bob Cooper, WA Association of Drug Courts.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.