12103257D
HOUSE BILL NO. 123
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 4, 2012
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-5.1, relating to specialized criminal court dockets.
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Patron-- Morrissey
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-5.1 as follows:

§19.2-5.1. Specialty criminal court dockets.

Any circuit court, district court, or juvenile and domestic relations district court may establish specialty criminal court dockets to address the specialized needs of similarly situated defendants. Such dockets may be authorized by the chief judge of the respective court. When addressing the specialized needs of similarly situated defendants, the court may utilize only the resources already existing and available to the court in the community notwithstanding the source of funding; however, additional funding for such court dockets or the creation of a formal specialized court shall require the approval of the General Assembly.