A bill that would create a treatment court for veterans suffering from drug addiction and mental illness passed its first hurdle today, gaining unanimous support from the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.

“This is an important first step towards meeting the unique needs of our veterans,” said bill sponsor Rep. Maeghan Maloney who sponsored the legislation. “The legislation will now move forward so we can stop treating some veterans like criminals instead of heroes.”

This bill authorizes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to establish veteran treatment courts. It also authorizes the State Court Administrator to seek federal funding for these courts.

“I am happy to be working with the judicial branch to develop veteran courts in Maine,” said Maloney. “Helping veterans is and should always be a bipartisan endeavor. We must continue to honor military service members by providing them with an alternative to incarceration. They need proper treatment for mental health and substance abuse problems resulting from military service.”

The bill was presented in memory of former Army Ranger Justin Crowley-Smilek of Farmington, who served his country in Afghanistan. Crowley-Smilek suffered from combat stress and physical injuries from service in Afghanistan. He was shot in a deadly confrontation with the police.

Veterans treatment courts operate similar to Drug Courts, but serve only military veterans suffering from substance abuse and mental illness.

There are 150,000 veterans in Maine. Nationally, one in five veterans report symptoms of mental disorder.

Maloney will work with Maine Congressman Mike Michaud’s office to gain federal funding for the program.

The bill now faces votes by the full House and Senate.