CARROLL ISSUES STATEMENT ON JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION BEING SIGNED INTO LAW

CARROLL ISSUES STATEMENT ON JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION BEING SIGNED INTO LAW

FRANKFORT, KY (March 28, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, upon the enactment of Senate Bill 162, legislation reforming the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) allocating funding and providing for an independent audit of DJJ:

“Senate Bill 163 and House Bill 3 were the products of strong stakeholder efforts by a lot of people. The DJJ working group could not have created such strong legislation without the excellent work of the unsung staff of the Legislative Research Commission. The reforms and investments in these bills will be monumental in repairing the broken DJJ culture. Senator David Givens’ bill providing a full audit of DJJ facilities and practices was combined with Senate Bill 162 and will go even further in determining the breakdown and failures of leadership within the system. I look forward to seeing the results of this comprehensive, independent audit.

“While I am happy these bills have been enacted into law, Governor Andy Beshear has yet to take the necessary action to bring accountability to those in the highest leadership positions within DJJ. Until there is accountability, it will be difficult to realize a change in culture in DJJ as it currently exists. There is still time for the Governor to recognize this need and I encourage him to reconsider his unwillingness.”

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Senate Bill 158, included in the final provisions of Senate Bill 162, would officially direct the Kentucky auditor of public accounts staff to enter into a contract with a third party to conduct a thorough performance review of DJJ. The measure defines the authority of the third-party entity and scope of the study, and would provide $500,000 in the current fiscal year for the audit.

Senate Bill 162 is the start of a long-term reformation of DJJ and a commitment to finally address the needs of juveniles with serious mental illness. The bill carries an emergency designation, meaning it would take effect immediately upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State's office.

Major provisions of Senate Bill 162 include

• investment of over $55 million in the next two years to support comprehensive reforms within the system;

• transitioning DJJ back to a regional model while continuing to segregate males and females, and violent and non-violent offenders;

• Reorganizing DJJ, including:

  o   creating a Division of Compliance and an Office of Detention and requiring the eight DJJ centers to be under one person's supervision who reports directly to the DJJ commissioner. This office will house the Division of Transportation.

  o   moving the Division of Professional Development under the Office of Support Services.

• requiring the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to maintain a comprehensive, centralized data tracking system for DJJ;

• reforms membership and responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council.

• setting requirements for DJJ facilities and requiring DJJ to enter into sufficient contracts to ensure the availability of institutional treatment for children with severe emotional disturbance or mental illness as soon as practical;

  o   Requires the Kentucky Department of Medicaid to take steps to provide benefits to eligible detained children;

• establishing staff retention measures and addressing workforce needs by implementing a Youth Worker-R program to bring retired workers back into facilities and providing employee professional development opportunities; and

• implementing a limited duration program to allow previously resigned staff to return to previous employment classifications with the department's approval.

The substantial appropriations in the legislation demonstrate the seriousness of the crisis and the Senate's commitment to finding short and long-term solutions.

Visit THIS LINK to find Senate Bill 162 in its entirety.

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Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, represents the 2nd Senate District, including Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, and McCracken Counties. He serves as Senate Families and Children Committee chair. He is also a Senate Education, Health Services and Judiciary committee member. Additionally, Carroll is a member of the Public Pension Oversight Board and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Carroll, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate102.jpg.