(The Center Square) – A pair of Wisconsin bills that would create treatment courts and commercial courts along with expand access to grants for diversion courts for non-violent offenders related to mental health passed a Senate committee this week.
Senate Bill 153 would make treatment alternatives and diversion grants from the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services available for treatment programs for those with a mental illness in cases that don’t involve alcohol and other drug treatment.
Currently, those grants must only go to alcohol and drug treatment programs.
“This bill expands this program to include those who have a mental health diagnosis,” Sen. André Jacque, R-New Franken, said in a statement on the bills he authored. “According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, 97% of TAD graduates stayed out of state prison after completing their TAD program.”
Senate Bill 80 would allow offenders to voluntarily participate and receive drug treatment services instead of a jail or prison sentence.
While the Wisconsin court system began a pilot commercial court program in 2017, the bill would establish commercial court in state law.
Several varieties of cases must be assigned to the court, including cases regarding governance or internal affairs of a business, the sale of transfer of securities, intellectual property rights, unfair competition or antitrust claims, disputes between franchiser and franchisees, disputes involving the Uniform Commercial Code of $100,000 or more, receiverships over $250,000, real estate or construction disputes over $250,000 and more.
“The lack of specific authorization by state rule or statute leaves their future uncertain,” Jacque said in a statement. “Legislative action to recognize these courts within state statute will put in place a permanent system proven to aid the efficient resolution of commercial disputes and help provide more certainty for our economy.”
