Pennsylvania HB 1192: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in courts of common pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in minor courts, providing for the Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1341
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1192
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PIELLI, DALEY, MADDEN, GIRAL, SANCHEZ, CEPHAS,
HILL-EVANS, MAYES, OTTEN, RIVERA, STEELE, SHUSTERMAN, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, BOROWSKI, GREEN, O'MARA AND HOWARD, APRIL 15, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 15, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in courts of common
pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in
minor courts, providing for the Mothers Treatment Court Pilot
Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 916(a) of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 916. Problem-solving courts.
(a) Establishment.--The court of common pleas of a judicial
district and the Municipal Court of Philadelphia may establish,
from available funds, one or more problem-solving courts which
have specialized jurisdiction, including, but not limited to,
veterans courts, drug courts, mental health courts and driving
under the influence courts, whereby defendants are admitted to a
court-supervised individualized treatment program, and, in
accordance with Subchapter A of Chapter 14 (relating to mothers
treatment court pilot program), mothers treatment courts. The
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

court may adopt local rules for the administration of problem-
solving courts and their related treatment services. The local
rules may not be inconsistent with this section or any rules
established by the Supreme Court.
* * *
Section 2. Title 42 is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 14
OTHER MINOR COURTS
Subchapter
A. Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program
SUBCHAPTER A
MOTHERS TREATMENT COURT PILOT PROGRAM
Sec.
1401. Scope of subchapter.
1402. Definitions.
1403. Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program.
§ 1401. Scope of subchapter.
This subchapter relates to the Mothers Treatment Court Pilot
Program.
§ 1402. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Office." The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
"Program." The Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program
established in this subchapter.
"Treatment court." A type of court aimed at addressing
specific issues that certain individuals or groups of
individuals may face. This term may also be referred to as a
problem-solving court.
20250HB1192PN1341 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

§ 1403. Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Mothers Treatment Court Pilot
Program is established within the Administrative Office of
Pennsylvania Courts for the purpose of supporting counties in
developing, implementing and administering mothers treatment
courts to provide support for mothers involved in the criminal
justice system.
(b) Guidelines and procedures.--No later than six months
after the effective date of this section, the office shall
establish guidelines and procedures for the program, which shall
include the following:
(1) Procedures for identifying and referring mothers to
treatment courts.
(2) Procedures to address the specific issues mothers
face when involved in the criminal justice system.
(3) Procedures for data collection and reporting on the
effectiveness of treatment courts.
(4) Other requirements for the program that the office
deems necessary.
(c) Implementation by counties.--A county may work with the
office to implement a treatment court within the jurisdiction of
the county. A county that implements a treatment court shall
record and report each use of the treatment court, the outcomes
of individuals who participate in the treatment court, the
crimes for which participating individuals were charged and any
other information the office finds applicable.
(d) Report.--The office shall annually compile a report of
information collected from counties that implement treatment
courts and shall publish the information, with no personally
identifiable information, on the office's publicly accessible
20250HB1192PN1341 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Internet website.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1192PN1341 - 4 -
1
2