STATE SENATOR’S QUESTIONS OF DJJ OFFICIALS SPOTLIGHT DETAILS SURROUNDING PROPOSED JUVENILE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY
FRANKFORT, KY (June 6, 2024)—Representatives from the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) testified during Wednesday’s Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary to update the ongoing crisis within DJJ and discuss budget allocations made by lawmakers.
In light of troubling reports of abuse at Kentucky's juvenile justice facilities including a violent sexual assault at the Adair County Detention Center, the Kentucky General Assembly committed to addressing these serious issues and called for transparency and accountability within the executive branch. Following the efforts of the legislative-led DJJ Work Group during the 2023 Legislative Session, lawmakers allocated millions of dollars and implemented reforms to support DJJ and staff.
Of note, during Wednesday’s Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary meeting, Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, who serves as co-chair of the committee, asked DJJ representatives to clarify the discussion of a state juvenile high-acuity mental health facility.
In a May 15 release from Governor Andy Beshear and Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, the administration criticized lawmakers but also ignored efforts the legislature has taken to help it resolve the persisting DJJ crisis. Beshear and Coleman made the following statement in response to the federal Department of Justice’s announcement of an investigation into the administration related to various persisting problems within DJJ.
“...the Governor called for critical funding to support the department, including funding a facility to provide residential psychiatric treatment for juveniles who need it and would otherwise be placed in detention, but the request was not approved by the General Assembly,” they said.
The Governor’s news release did not reference language in the 2024-26 budget requiring DJJ to submit a report to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue by December 1 detailing the high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility project. The report must cover services, cost parameters, design elements, and operational capacity. It must also explore possible models for delivering necessary services, including contracting alternatives and alternative sites for the facility.
Testimony from Wednesday’s meeting shed light on why the legislature's thorough approach is necessary.
Frommeyer highlighted the need for clarity and identified discrepancies in the Governor's budget proposal and the administration’s shifting plans.
Only $2.5 million was included for renovating a current facility in the Governor's recommended budget bill, House Bill 114 (pg. 123). This funding was not in the DJJ agency budget but rather in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) budget. After the Governor’s budget was released, it was determined by DJJ and CHFS staff that the plan would not be workable. By February, the administration had revised its request to $22 million for a new facility at Central State Hospital, but the proposal lacked the detail typically seen for capital construction plans.
Discussion Wednesday revealed that the administration's proposal is still not fully developed. Given the vagueness of the plan, it would have been irresponsible to appropriate funds.
“This meeting is an example of why the interim is so important, and I’m really glad we were able to get updates and pose questions openly and transparently,” Frommeyer said. “We heard testimony that proves a solid plan was not, and is not in place. That’s not to be critical because I believe a comprehensive proposal deserves an investment of time and thought.
“I hope the report DJJ will provide us is thorough and well-vetted, but the most important thing is that we are now—as a commitment to due diligence for our most troubled youth—on a better-defined path toward getting this right. The legislature knows the need here, but it’s not enough to simply check the box and get it done; we must get it right.”
The committee meeting is available for playback via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube Channel HERE. The detailed discussion regarding a juvenile mental health facility starts at the 40:20 mark.
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Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, represents the 24th Senate District, including Bracken, Campbell, and Pendleton Counties and part of Kenton County. She is a Senate member of the Interim Joint Committees on Appropriations and Revenue; Economic Development and Workforce Investment; Education; Health Services; and Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology. Funke Frommeyer serves as co-chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary and is a Kentucky Health and Human Services Delivery System Task Force member. Additionally, Funke Frommeyer is a member of the Capitol Projects and Bond Oversight Committee, and the 2024-2026 Budget Preparation and Submission Committee.
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