SB 18-154

Senate Bill 18-154, which has been signed into law, requires local juvenile services planning committees to create a plan for managing youth who are involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. This plan aims to improve communication between these two systems, ensure that such youth receive appropriate support and placement, and reduce their time in secure detention facilities when possible. The bill also allows money from marijuana tax funds to be used for developing and implementing these plans. This law affects young people who are navigating both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems simultaneously, helping to provide them with better coordinated care and services.

Official Summary

The bill requires local juvenile services planning committees to devise a plan to manage dually identified crossover youth. A dually identified crossover youth is a youth involved in both the juvenile justice system and the child welfare system. The plan must contain descriptions and processes to include the following: A process for the identification of dually identified crossover youth at the earliest reasonable point of contact; A method for collaborating and exchanging information with other judicial districts; A process for promptly communicating information about the youth's crossover status between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and to notify each other of the new involvement in the respective system or information that may aid in the identification of dually identified crossover youth; A process for identifying the least restrictive appropriate placement; A process for sharing and gathering information in accordance with applicable laws and rules; A process for the development of a single case management plan and identification of the lead agency for case management purposes; A process that facilitates the sharing of assessments and case planning information; A process for a multi-disciplinary group of professionals to consider decisions that include: Youth and community safety, placement, provision of needed services, alternatives to detention and commitment, probation, parole, permanency, education stability, and case closure; and A requirement that dually identified crossover youth placed in a secure detention facility who are deemed eligible for release by the court be placed in the least restrictive setting whenever possible to reduce the disparity between dually identified crossover youth and nondually identified crossover youth in secure detention. The bill allows marijuana tax cash fund money to be used for the development of local dually identified crossover youth plans and services. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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