Amendment #1058 to H4000

Veterans Court

Representatives Dykema of Holliston, Dwyer of Woburn, Linsky of Natick, Sannicandro of Ashland, Hogan of Stow, Gregoire of Marlborough, Arciero of Westford, Walsh of Framingham, Benson of Lunenburg, Garry of Dracut, Conroy of Wayland, Khan of Newton and Garballey of Arlington moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

“SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be housed within a district court in Middlesex County, a Middlesex Veterans Treatment Court, which shall be a specialty court program providing specialized review and consideration of criminal and civil cases within the court’s jurisdiction, or the jurisdiction of any other district court within Middlesex county, involving veterans, as defined in clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws.

The first justice, clerk-magistrate, chief probation officer, and any other court personnel from the Framingham district court selected by the first justice thereof shall coordinate with the Middlesex district attorney’s office, the United States Veterans Administration, the department of veterans’ services, the Middlesex sheriff’s office, the department of correction, and the department of mental health to develop and administer the Middlesex Veterans Treatment Court. On or after January 1, 2015, the Middlesex Veterans Treatment Court shall hold at least 1 session per week.