Description:
H.R. 4035 would authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide grants to local governments for improving retention rates in veterans treatment court and drug court programs, specialized programs that integrate substance use treatment services with criminal proceedings. The bill also would allow veterans to participate in a regular drug court if no veterans treatment court is available. H.R. 4035 would require DOJ to report to the Congress three years after enactment on the effectiveness of veterans treatment court programs, including an assessment of access to such programs for women and people in various demographic groups. The bill would authorize appropriations of $3 million annually over the 2022-2027 period for the grant program. Using historical rates of spending for similar activities, CBO estimates that DOJ would spend $8 million over the 2021-2026 period to implement the provision, with the remaining amount spent after 2026. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that the cost to produce the report would be less than $500,000 over the 2022-2026 period; any such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
