§ 16-19-106 — Funding

(a) A court exercising criminal jurisdiction within this state or an existing drug court treatment program or a veterans treatment court program created by a court exercising criminal jurisdiction may apply for mental health treatment court program grant funds. If the department of mental health and substance abuse services determines that the court is able to administer a mental health treatment court program, then the department shall award the court grant money to fund a mental health treatment court program. (b) If the department determines that a court is able to administer a mental health treatment court program and grant money is awarded pursuant to subsection (a), then the county in which the court resides shall provide a courtroom and a judge for the mental health treatment court program and all necessary supplies and equipment for the maintenance of the court, and shall defray the expenses thereof from the general fund of the county. (c) Funds allocated pursuant to this section may be used to: (1) Fund a full-time or part-time program director position; (2) Fund treatment court program staff whose job duties are directly related to program operations; (3) Fund mental health treatment and other direct services for court program participants; and (4) Fund program costs directly related to program operations. (d) Funds allocated pursuant to this section shall not be used: (1) To pay for costs not directly related to mental health treatment court program operations; (2) To pay for additional judges to preside over a mental health treatment court program; (3) For construction or land acquisition; (4) To pay bonuses or commissions to any individuals or organizations; or (5) To form a corporation.

Legislative History

Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1071, s 1, eff. 5/25/2022.