(a) This article shall be known and cited as the Treatment-Mandated Felony Act. (b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided in subdivision (d), a person described in subdivision (c) who possesses a hard drug, unless upon the written prescription of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or veterinarian licensed to practice in this state, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code. A second or subsequent conviction of this section, is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or by imprisonment in the state prison. (2) A person shall not be sentenced to jail or prison pursuant to this section unless a court determines that the person is not eligible or suitable for treatment or that any other circumstance described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) applies to that person. (c) Subdivision (b) applies to a person who has two or more prior convictions for a felony or misdemeanor violation of Section 11350, 11351, 11351.5, 11352, 11353, 11353.5, 11353.7, 11370.1, 11377, 11378, 11378.5, 11379, 11379.5, 11379.6, 11380, or 11395, including a conviction that occurred before the effective date of this section. Prior convictions shall be alleged in the accusatory pleading, and either admitted by the defendant in open court or found to be true by the trier of fact. (d) (1) (A) In lieu of a jail or prison sentence, or a grant of probation with jail as a condition of probation, a defendant charged with a violation of this section may elect treatment by pleading guilty or no contest to a violation of this section and admitting the alleged prior convictions, waiving time for sentencing and the pronouncement of judgment, and agreeing to participate in, and complete, a detailed treatment program developed by a drug addiction expert and approved by the court. A defendantâs plea of guilty or no contest shall not constitute a conviction for any purpose unless judgment is entered pursuant to paragraph (4) for a violation of this section. (B) Upon or subsequent to arraignment for a violation of this section, and at the request or with the consent of the defendant or their attorney, the court shall order a drug addiction expert to conduct a substance abuse and mental health evaluation of the defendant. The expert shall submit a report of the evaluation to the court and parties. The evaluation may be based on an interview of the defendant or other individuals with relevant knowledge and review of records the expert deems appropriate, including medical records, criminal history, prior treatment history, and records pertaining to the current offense. If the defendant participates in the interview, neither the defendantâs interview nor evidence derived from the interview may be used against the defendant at any subsequent trial for the instant offense except for the purposes of impeachment should the defendant testify inconsistently. The evaluation shall detail the defendantâs drug abuse or mental health issues, if any, so the court and parties may better determine appropriate handling of the defendantâs case. (C) Concurrent with the order for a substance abuse and mental health evaluation of the defendant, and with the defendantâs consent, the court shall also order that a case worker or other qualified individual determine whether the defendant is eligible to receive Medi-Cal, Medicare, or any other relevant benefits for any programs or evaluations under this section. If the defendant did not previously consent to an eligibility determination at arraignment, the court shall order the eligibility determination upon and as a condition of the defendantâs agreement to participate in and complete a treatment program as described in this subdivision. (2) A treatment program may include, but is not limited to, drug treatment, mental health treatment, job training, and any other conditions related to treatmen
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