A.  The mental health court program may maintain or collaborate with a network of mental health treatment programs and, if the defendant has co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues, a network of treatment programs dealing with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse treatment programs, representing a continuum of treatment options commensurate with the needs of defendants and in accordance with available resources.  The mental health court program may designate a court liaison to monitor the progress of defendants in their assigned treatment programs on behalf of the court.

B.  Any mental illness or substance abuse treatment to which defendants are referred shall be licensed by the state and shall be in compliance with all rules governing such programs operating within the state of Louisiana.

C.  The mental health court program may, at its discretion, employ additional services or interventions, as it deems necessary on a case-by-case basis.

Acts 2013, No. 346, §1.