House Bill 5506 (sHB5506 File No. 492) amends the definition and handling of "families with service needs" (FWSN) in the state, effective October 1, 2024. The bill expands the definition of FWSN to include families with children aged seven to under eighteen who exhibit behaviors such as running away, being beyond control, engaging in indecent conduct, truancy, habitual truancy, overt defiance of school rules, or sexual intercourse with a person not more than two years older or younger if they are thirteen or older. It removes the requirement for a petition to be filed by June 30, 2020, for a child to be considered from a FWSN. The bill outlines the process for parents or guardians to file a complaint, the role of probation officers in assessing and referring families to services, and the court's actions, which may include educational evaluations, temporary custody arrangements, and the possibility of referring the child to the Department of Children and Families for voluntary services.

The bill also introduces changes to the juvenile justice system, including the definition of a "staff-secure facility" and the conditions under which a child can be placed there for up to 45 days. It eliminates the option for police officers to hold runaway children in protective custody for up to 12 hours, instead directing them to return the child home or refer them to a youth service bureau or other agency. The bill mandates the Court Support Services Division to contract with private providers or youth service bureaus to create a network of family support centers offering a range of services to prevent further court involvement. Additionally, it allows for nonjudicial supervision of a child for up to 180 days, with the possibility of referring the matter back to the court if the child violates the terms of supervision. The bill will result in significant costs to the Judicial Department, the Department of Children and Families, and the Office of the State Comptroller due to the need for additional staff and services. The Judiciary Committee gave a joint favorable vote to the bill on March 26, 2024.