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.

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
 1   Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
 2      Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in courts of common
 3      pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in
 4      minor courts, providing for the Mothers Treatment Court Pilot
 5      Program.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    Section 916(a) of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
 9   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
10   § 916.   Problem-solving courts.
11      (a)   Establishment.--The court of common pleas of a judicial
12   district and the Municipal Court of Philadelphia may establish,
13   from available funds, one or more problem-solving courts which
14   have specialized jurisdiction, including, but not limited to,
15   veterans courts, drug courts, mental health courts and driving
16   under the influence courts, whereby defendants are admitted to a
17   court-supervised individualized treatment program, and, in
18   accordance with Subchapter A of Chapter 14 (relating to mothers
19   treatment court pilot program), mothers treatment courts. The
 1   court may adopt local rules for the administration of problem-
 2   solving courts and their related treatment services. The local
 3   rules may not be inconsistent with this section or any rules
 4   established by the Supreme Court.
 5      * * *
 6      Section 2.     Title 42 is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 7                                  CHAPTER 14
 8                             OTHER MINOR COURTS
 9   Subchapter
10      A.     Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program
11                                SUBCHAPTER A
12                   MOTHERS TREATMENT COURT PILOT PROGRAM
13   Sec.
14   1401.   Scope of subchapter.
15   1402.   Definitions.
16   1403.   Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program.
17   § 1401.    Scope of subchapter.
18      This subchapter relates to the Mothers Treatment Court Pilot
19   Program.
20   § 1402.    Definitions.
21      The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
22   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
23   context clearly indicates otherwise:
24      "Office."     The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
25      "Program."     The Mothers Treatment Court Pilot Program
26   established in this subchapter.
27      "Treatment court."     A type of court aimed at addressing
28   specific issues that certain individuals or groups of
29   individuals may face. This term may also be referred to as a
30   problem-solving court.

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

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




20250HB1192PN1341                 - 4 -