Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts Act of 2015

To establish a grant program to assist tribal governments in establishing tribal healing to wellness courts, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts Act of 2015 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 25 U.S.C. 450b (2) Tribal government The term tribal government 3. Establishment of grant program (a) Authorizations (1) In general The Attorney General may make grants to eligible entities for tribal healing to wellness courts for members of Indian tribes, including adults, juveniles, and families, that involve— (A) continuing judicial supervision over offenders and other individuals under the jurisdiction of the court with substance abuse problems; and (B) the integrated administration of other sanctions and services, which may include— (i) mandatory periodic testing for each participant for the use of controlled substances or other addictive substances during any period of participation in the tribal healing to wellness court; (ii) substance abuse treatment for each participant; (iii) diversion, probation, or other supervised release involving the possibility of prosecution, confinement, or incarceration based on noncompliance with program requirements or failure to show satisfactory progress; and (iv) offender management, and services such as relapse prevention, health care, education, vocational training, job placement, housing placement, and child care or other family support services for each participant who requires such services. (2) Cultural activities At the option of the eligible entity establishing the tribal healing to wellness court, the tribal healing to wellness court may include cultural activities in the services provided under paragraph (1). (b) Eligible entities Entities eligible to receive a grant under this section are tribal governments— (1) acting directly or through agreements with other public or private entities; and (2) acting in partnership with States or units of local government. (c) Applications To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may require, including— (1) a long-term strategy and detailed implementation plan; (2) an explanation of the inability of the applicant to fund the tribal healing to wellness court adequately without the grant; (3) a certification that the grant provided will be used to supplement, and not supplant, State, Indian tribal, and local sources of funding that would otherwise be available; (4) an identification of related governmental or community initiatives that complement or will be coordinated with the proposal; (5) a certification that— (A) there has been appropriate consultation with all affected agencies; and (B) there will be appropriate coordination with all affected agencies during the implementation of the tribal healing to wellness program; (6) a certification that participating offenders will be supervised by 1 or more designated judges with responsibility for the tribal healing to wellness court; (7) a specification of plans for obtaining necessary support and continuing the proposed tribal healing to wellness court following the conclusion of the grant period; and (8) a description of the methodology that will be used in evaluating the tribal healing to wellness court. (d) Geographic distribution The Attorney General shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the equitable geographic distribution of grant awards under this Act. 4. Mandatory drug testing and mandatory sanctions and responses (a) Mandatory testing (1) In general Grant amounts under this Act may be used for a tribal healing to wellness court only if the tribal healing to wellness court has mandatory periodic testing as described in section 3(a)(1)(B)(i). (2) Regulations (A) In general The Attorney General, by issuing guidelines or promulgating regulations, shall describe standards for the timing and manner of complying with the requirements of paragraph (1). (B) Standards The standards under subparagraph (A)— (i) shall ensure that— (I) each participant is tested for any controlled substance the Attorney General or the court may require; and (II) the testing is accurate and practicable; and (ii) may require approval of the drug testing regime to ensure that adequate testing occurs. (b) Mandatory sanctions and responses (1) In general The Attorney General, by issuing guidelines or promulgating regulations, may require that grant amounts under this section may be used for a tribal healing to wellness court only if the tribal healing to wellness court imposes graduated sanctions that increase punitive responses, therapeutic responses, or both, if a participant fails a drug test. (2) Inclusions The sanctions and responses under paragraph (1) may include— (A) incarceration; (B) detoxification treatment; (C) residential treatment; (D) increased time in the program; (E) termination from the program; (F) increased drug screening requirements; (G) increased court appearances; (H) increased counseling; (I) increased supervision; (J) electronic monitoring; (K) in-home restriction; (L) community service; (M) family counseling; (N) anger management classes; and (O) additional assessments. 5. Prohibition on participation by violent offenders (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Violent offender Except as provided in paragraph (2), the term violent offender (A) is charged with or convicted of an offense or conduct that is punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding 1 year, during the course of which offense or conduct— (i) the person carried, possessed, or used a firearm or dangerous weapon; (ii) there occurred the death of or serious bodily injury to any person; or (iii) there occurred the use of force against the person of another, without regard to whether any of the circumstances described in clause (i) or (ii) is an element of the offense or conduct of which or for which the person is charged or convicted; or (B) has 1 or more prior convictions for a felony crime of violence involving the use or attempted use of force against a person with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm. (2) Violent offender definition for purposes of juvenile drug courts For purposes of juvenile drug courts, the term violent offender (A) has as an element, the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or the possession or use of a firearm; or (B) by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense. (b) Prohibition The Attorney General shall— (1) issue regulations or guidelines to ensure that the tribal healing to wellness courts carried out using a grant under this Act do not permit participation by violent offenders; and (2) immediately suspend funding for any tribal healing to wellness court receiving a grant under this Act, pending compliance, if the Attorney General finds that violent offenders are participating in the tribal healing to wellness court. (c) Waiver (1) In general The Attorney General may waive the application of this section to a tribal healing to wellness court if the applicable entity receiving grant amounts under this Act applies for a waiver. (2) Requirements The Attorney General shall establish requirements for a waiver under paragraph (1) in consultation with Indian tribes. 6. Technical assistance and training; support services (a) Technical assistance and training (1) In general The Attorney General, acting through the Bureau of Justice Assistance or through grants, contracts, or other cooperative arrangements with national or regional organizations, shall provide to each eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act technical assistance and training— (A) to assist that eligible entity in successfully competing for future funding under this Act; and (B) to strengthen existing tribal healing to wellness courts. (2) Rural needs In providing technical assistance and training under paragraph (1), the Bureau of Justice Assistance shall consider and respond to the unique needs of eligible entities located in rural States, rural areas, and rural communities. (b) Support services The Indian Health Service and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shall provide to each eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act support services to assist the eligible entity in carrying out the tribal healing to wellness court receiving grant amounts under this Act. 7. Report An eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act, for each fiscal year of the grant period and on a date specified by the Attorney General, shall submit to the Attorney General a report that describes the effectiveness of this Act. 8. Administration (a) Consultation The Attorney General shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and any other appropriate officials in carrying out this Act. (b) Use of components The Attorney General may use any component or components of the Department of Justice in carrying out this Act. 9. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020, to remain available until expended. (b) Training and technical assistance Each fiscal year, not more than 5 percent of funds made available under subsection (a) for the fiscal year may be used by the Attorney General to provide training and technical assistance to carry out this Act.

Summary: Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts Act of 2015 This bill permits the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to tribal governments acting in partnership with state or local governments for tribal healing to wellness courts. (A tribal healing to wellness court is a drug court that is a component of a tribal justice system and includes substance abuse treatment and may include cultural activities.) Courts receiving grants must monitor individuals under their jurisdiction and must periodically test each individual for drug use. DOJ may require these courts to increase punitive or treatment responses for an individual who fails a drug test. Violent offenders may not be under the jurisdiction of these courts unless the court has received a waiver from DOJ.