Substitute Bill No. 7250 proposes significant reforms to the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee by expanding its membership and establishing a new state advisory council. The bill repeals and replaces subsection (b) of section 46b-121n, broadening the committee's composition to include various state officials, advocates, and community members, specifically adding the Commissioner of Housing and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. It also introduces two youth representatives with lived experience in the juvenile justice system, appointed by a community expertise subcommittee. Additionally, a new subsection (v) is added to section 46b-121n, creating a state advisory council to comply with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, which will consist of 15 to 33 members, including a representative from the Office of Policy and Management.

The bill further addresses chronic absenteeism in schools by amending section 10-198c to require the establishment of attendance review teams in districts with high absenteeism rates. These teams will meet monthly to review cases and recommend interventions for truants and chronically absent children. The Department of Education is tasked with reporting annually on the effectiveness of these teams starting February 1, 2026. Additionally, municipalities with juvenile review boards or diversion programs must report on youth diversion outcomes, and a state-wide youth diversion policy and training curriculum for police officers will be developed by February 1, 2026. The bill also mandates the Department of Children and Families to report on a trauma-informed treatment plan starting July 1, 2025, and requires annual evaluations of the reentry success plan by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management.

Statutes affected:
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 755:
APP Joint Favorable: