Bill to clarify roles for district court supervised treatment programs wins committee approval

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard House Bill 13‑47, which would clarify in statute the roles and responsibilities of agencies that work with court‑supervised treatment programs (formerly described as drug courts).

Representative Bernie Satram, sponsor, said the bill “clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the agencies involved with the treatment courts throughout North Dakota” and grew out of collaboration among the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR), the Office of State Court Administrator and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Jessica Thurlson, specialized docket manager for the court system, described the bill as “a basic construct for the roles and responsibilities associated with treatment courts” and noted there are currently 14 adult and juvenile treatment courts in the state.

Pam Segnus, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at DHHS, told the committee the bill would allow DHHS to use budgeted funds to step in when a private provider stops offering required services so that treatment court participants do not lose access. Tom Erhard of DOCR said treatment courts in North Dakota have reduced one‑ and two‑year recidivism by about 10 percent on average and up to 20 percent for the highest performing courts in a 2022 evaluation; he said the bill “clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the agencies that are involved in treatment courts throughout the state.”

Section 1 of the bill creates a new chapter (27‑2705) and states, among other items, that DOCR shall supervise offenders sentenced to probation consistent with department policy, DHHS shall oversee treatment services, and district courts shall provide judicial direction and coordination for specialized dockets. The committee voted to give HB 13‑47 a due pass; Senator Brownberger moved a due pass and the motion carried on a roll call vote. Senator Brownberger agreed to carry the bill.