(a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the purpose of implementing this section, the Judicial Council shall do all of the following:

(1) Conduct a study of veterans and veterans treatment courts that includes all of the following:

(A) A statewide assessment of the veterans treatment courts currently in operation that includes the number of veteran participants in the program, services available, and program outcomes, including successful completion or program terminations. The assessment shall evaluate the impact of a sample of veterans treatment courts on participant outcomes, including, but not limited to, program recidivism, mental health, homelessness, employment, social stability, and substance abuse.

(B) A survey of counties that do not operate veterans treatment courts that identifies barriers to program implementation and assesses the need for veterans treatment courts in those jurisdictions based on the veterans services available and the estimated number of veterans involved in the local criminal justice system. The survey shall identify alternative resources that may be available to veterans, such as community courts or other collaborative justice courts.

(2) On or before June 1, 2020, report to the Legislature on the results of the study described in paragraph (1). The report shall include recommendations regarding the expansion of veterans treatment courts or services to counties without veterans treatment courts and shall explore the feasibility of designing regional model veterans treatment courts through the use of service coordination or technological resources. The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2021, deletes or extends that date.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 595, Sec. 1. (SB 339) Effective January 1, 2018. Repealed as of January 1, 2021, by its own provisions)