DUTIES OF PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM

(a) A public safety employees treatment court program established under this chapter must: (1) ensure that a defendant eligible for participation in the program is provided legal counsel before volunteering to proceed through the program and while participating in the program; (2) allow a participant to withdraw from the program at any time before a trial on the merits has been initiated; (3) provide a participant with a court-ordered individualized treatment plan indicating the services that will be provided to the participant; and (4) ensure that the jurisdiction of the public safety employees treatment court continues for a period of not less than six months but does not continue beyond the period of community supervision for the offense charged. (b) A public safety employees treatment court program established under this chapter shall make, establish, and publish local procedures to ensure maximum participation of eligible defendants in the county or counties in which those defendants reside. (c) A public safety employees treatment court program may allow a participant to comply with the participant's court-ordered individualized treatment plan or to fulfill certain other court obligations through the use of videoconferencing software or other Internet-based communications. (d) This chapter does not prevent the initiation of procedures under Chapter 46B, Code of Criminal Procedure.