HB153 - Relating to the eligibility of service members and veterans to participate in a veterans treatment court program.

  89R231 EAS-F     By: Raymond H.B. No. 153       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the eligibility of service members and veterans to   participate in a veterans treatment court program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 124.002(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The commissioners court of a county may establish a   veterans treatment court program for persons arrested for, charged   with, convicted of, or placed on deferred adjudication community   supervision for any misdemeanor or felony offense.   Except for good   cause shown by an attorney representing the state to deny a   defendant's participation in the program, a [ A ] defendant is   eligible to participate in a veterans treatment court program   established under this chapter [ only if the attorney representing   the state consents to the defendant's participation in the program   and ] if the court in which the criminal case is pending or in which   the defendant was convicted or placed on deferred adjudication   community supervision, as applicable, finds that the defendant is a   veteran or current member of the United States armed forces,   including a member of the reserves, national guard, or state guard,   who:                (1)  suffers from a brain injury, mental illness, or   mental disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, or was a   victim of military sexual trauma if the injury, illness, disorder,   or trauma:                      (A)  occurred during or resulted from the   defendant's military service; and                      (B)  affected the defendant's criminal conduct at   issue in the case; or                (2)  is a defendant whose participation in a veterans   treatment court program, considering the circumstances of the   defendant's conduct, personal and social background, and criminal   history, is likely to achieve the objective of ensuring public   safety through rehabilitation of the veteran in the manner provided   by Section 1.02(1), Penal Code.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.