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21-6825. Certified drug abuse treatment program for persons who have entered into a diversion agreement; supervision by community corrections or court services; discharge from program; exceptions to placement in program. (a) There is hereby established a certified drug abuse treatment program for certain persons who enter into a diversion agreement in lieu of further criminal proceedings on and after July 1, 2021. Placement of divertees in a certified drug abuse treatment program pursuant to a diversion agreement shall be limited to placement of adults, on a complaint alleging a felony violation of K.S.A. 21-5706, and amendments thereto, whose offense is classified in grid blocks 5-C, 5-D, 5-E, 5-F, 5-G, 5-H or 5-I of the sentencing guidelines grid for drug crimes who have no felony conviction of K.S.A. 65-4142, 65-4159, 65-4161, 65-4163 or 65-4164, prior to their repeal, K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-36a03, 21-36a05 or 21-36a16, prior to their transfer, or K.S.A. 21-5703, 21-5705 or 21-5716, and amendments thereto, or any substantially similar offense from another jurisdiction.

(b) As part of the consideration of whether or not to allow diversion to the defendant, a divertee who meets the requirements of subsection (a) shall be subject to:

(1) A drug abuse assessment that shall include a clinical interview with a mental health professional and a recommendation concerning drug abuse treatment for the divertee; and

(2) a standardized criminal risk-need assessment specified by the Kansas sentencing commission.

(c) The diversion agreement shall require the divertee to comply with and participate in a certified drug abuse treatment program if the divertee meets the assessment criteria set by the Kansas sentencing commission. The term of treatment shall not exceed 18 months.

(d) Divertees who are committed to a certified drug abuse treatment program pursuant to subsection (c) may be supervised by community correctional services or court services pursuant to a memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to K.S.A. 22-2907, and amendments thereto.

(e) (1) Divertees in a certified drug abuse treatment program shall be discharged from the program if the divertee:

(A) Is convicted of a new felony; or

(B) has a pattern of intentional conduct that demonstrates the divertee's refusal to comply with or participate in the treatment program in the opinion of the county or district attorney.

(2) Divertees who are discharged from such program pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be subject to the revocation provisions of the divertee's diversion agreement.

(f) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Mental health professional" includes licensed social workers, persons licensed to practice medicine and surgery, licensed psychologists, licensed professional counselors or registered alcohol and other drug abuse counselors licensed or certified as addiction counselors who have been certified by the Kansas sentencing commission to treat persons pursuant to K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 75-52,144, and amendments thereto.

(2) "Divertee" means a person who has entered into a diversion agreement pursuant to K.S.A. 22-2909, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2021, ch. 109, § 1; L. 2022, ch. 73, § 7; July 1.