HB360 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chad RobertsonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Drug courts; name changed to "accountability courts," eligibility expanded to include veterans and individuals with mental illness, duties of Administrative Office of Courts further provided for

Summary

HB360 renames drug courts to accountability courts, expands eligibility to include veterans and individuals with mental illness, and adds statewide policy, coordination, and oversight requirements.

What This Bill Does

Renames existing drug courts to accountability courts and expands who can participate to include veterans and offenders with mental illness. Requires the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) to adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines for accountability courts and to coordinate statewide implementation, transfer processes, and program standards. Repeals the old drug testing procedures and establishes a structured framework for eligibility screening, assessments, treatment referrals, and possible pre-adjudication, post-adjudication, or reentry participation. Mandates data collection, reporting, and audits, sets confidentiality protections for treatment records, and details funding, fees, and indigency considerations, with the act taking effect October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Drug offenders in Alabama, including veterans and individuals with mental illness, who may be placed into accountability court programs and receive treatment, supervision, or alternative sentencing.
• State and local court system entities and personnel (AOC, district attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement, community corrections, and treatment providers) responsible for establishing, operating, and evaluating accountability courts.

Key Provisions

• Renames 'drug courts' to 'Alabama Drug Offender Accountability Act' and 'accountability courts'.
• Expands eligibility to include offenders with mental illness and offenders who are veterans; sets conditions for participation and transfer between courts, including interstate transfers.
• Establishes local drug accountability teams, drug court coordinators, and dedicated dockets; requires adherence to ten key components defined by the DOJ.
• Requires the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) to develop and enforce policies, procedures, and guidelines for accountability courts; oversee statewide coordination and training.
• Repeals Section 12-23A-7 (drug testing procedures) and replaces with new screening and assessment processes; sets criteria for when screenings and tests are required.
• Implements a comprehensive screening and assessment process, including risk/needs assessments and referrals to treatment programs certified by the Department of Mental Health (DMH).
• Allows pre-adjudication, post-adjudication, reentry, or combination programs; permits incentives and sanctions under written agreements; outlines completion dispositions (e.g., nolle prosequi, deferred/suspended sentences).
• Requires ongoing monitoring, reporting of progress, and maintenance of records for accountability court participants; establishes confidentiality protections for treatment records.
• Authorizes transfers between accountability courts and allows admission of offenders from municipal courts without their own accountability programs; requires written agreements and consent of involved parties.
• Imposes annual audits of funds and operations, with uniform accounting, and requires reporting to the judiciary and legislature about program effectiveness and costs.
• Effective October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Courts & Judges