No. CS/CS/HB 1153
Filed under Criminal Justice.
Juvenile Justice; Authorizing the Governor to award a Medal of Heroism to juvenile detention and juvenile probation officers; authorizing certain entities to establish an award program to award a Medal of Valor to a juvenile detention officer or probation officer in certain circumstances; revising the definition of the term “officer” to include juvenile detention and juvenile probation officers; requiring the Department of Juvenile Justice to direct the Department of Revenue to deduct specified amounts owed to the Department of Juvenile Justice upon a certain determination; requiring the Department of Revenue to transfer such funds into a certain trust fund; specifying requirements relating to such reductions in amounts distributed to counties, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill creates a new financial penalty for counties that fail to pay their share of juvenile detention costs. The Department of Juvenile Justice can now force the Department of Revenue to deduct the unpaid amount from the county's state funding.
Juvenile detention and probation officers are now officially classified as "officers" under state law. This change makes them eligible for the Governor's Medal of Heroism and allows local governments to create their own Medal of Valor programs for them.
The bill tightens the rules for sheltering unmarried minors. A person who is not an authorized agent of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Children and Families may not knowingly shelter an unmarried minor for more than 24 hours without parental consent or law enforcement notification.
The bill adds "guardian" to the definition of a "family in need of services." This expands the scope of the juvenile justice system to include families where a child is under the care of a legal guardian, not just a parent or custodian.
AICreates a mandatory quarterly audit and automatic state-level deduction from county general revenue to recover unpaid juvenile detention costs.
AIRequires the Department of Revenue to verify that state deductions do not jeopardize county bond payments, and mandates the department to bill counties for any shortfall.
AIAdds juvenile detention and probation officers to the statutory definition of "officer," making them eligible for the Medal of Heroism, Medal of Valor, and commemorative service awards.
AIProhibits unauthorized individuals from sheltering unmarried minors for more than 24 hours without parental consent or law enforcement notification.
AIRestricts the use of shelter placement as a punishment for contempt of court to children currently subject to proceedings under the juvenile justice chapter.