Committee backs bill letting solicitors place people in pretrial intervention more than once

The House Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to House Bill H3057, which would allow a solicitor to consent to a person participating in pretrial intervention (PTI) more than once.

Mr. Weeks, reporting the bill, said it "would lift that bar if the solicitor consents," describing that current law generally bars repeated PTI participation and that the bill mirrors language that passed previously. Committee members probed whether the change would allow unlimited PTI entries, who signs off on admission to PTI, fee structures and whether victims' objections would be respected.

Supporters, including Representative Rutherford and Mr. Bannister, emphasized that PTI is an alternative that can connect defendants with treatment and reduce recidivism: "sometimes before you dismiss a case, you'd like to touch them to make sure that they didn't do whatever it was that they did again," Rutherford said, arguing solicitors are accountable and PTI can be tailored by solicitors to address underlying issues.

Opponents and cautious members asked whether allowing unlimited PTI would create a 'revolving door' and whether there should be statutory limits or fee changes for repeat participation. Committee members also noted that some solicitors or PTI practitioners did not testify at the subcommittee hearing and that opinions among solicitors statewide appeared divided.

The committee voted to report H3057 favorably (chair called the ayes; transcript records approval but not a roll-call tally). The bill text also expressly prevents a second PTI participation for someone previously admitted for criminal domestic violence.

What happens next: The bill was reported favorably out of committee and may be scheduled for further action; the transcript does not record subsequent floor action.