(a) Unless otherwise excluded pursuant to this section, a person charged with a misdemeanor pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 11357.5 or paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 11375.5 shall be eligible to participate in a preguilty plea drug court program, as described in Section 1000.5 of the Penal Code.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a positive test for use of a controlled substance, any other drug that may not be possessed without a prescription, or alcohol shall not be grounds for dismissal from the program, unless the person is not making progress in the program. The court shall consider a report or recommendation of the treatment provider in making this determination. It shall be presumed that a person engaged in a program is making progress, unless that presumption is defeated by clear and convincing evidence. The person may offer evidence or an argument that he or she would benefit from and make progress in a different program or mode. If the court so finds, it may place the person in a different treatment program.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the following persons are excluded from participation in the program under this section:

(1) A person with a history of violence that indicates that he or she presents a current risk of violent behavior currently or during the treatment program. This ground for exclusion shall be established by clear and convincing evidence.

(2) A person required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section 290, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person does not present a substantial risk of committing sexual offenses currently or through the course of the program and the person would benefit from the program, including that treatment would reduce the risk that the person would sexually reoffend.

(3) A person who the treatment provider concludes is unamenable to any and all forms of drug treatment. The defendant may present evidence that he or she is amenable to treatment and the court may retain the person in the program if the court finds that the person is amenable to treatment through a different provider or a different mode of treatment.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a prior conviction for an offense involving a controlled substance or drug that may not be possessed without a prescription, including a substance listed in Section 11357.5 or 11375.5, is not grounds for exclusion from the program, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is likely to engage in drug commerce for financial gain, rather than for purposes of obtaining a drug or drugs for personal use.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 561, Sec. 112. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2018.)