Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

APPROVED                  CHAPTER
                                                                   JULY 26, 2023                  425
                                                                  BY GOVERNOR               PUBLIC LAW
                                   STATE OF MAINE
                                           _____
                           IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                       TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE
                                           _____
                                    H.P. 96 - L.D. 155
   An Act Regarding Community-based Services for Youth Involved in the
                       Juvenile Justice System
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
    Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §19132, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 450, §7, is amended to
read:
    9. Program implementation and oversight. Initiate, implement and oversee
programs, policies and services consistent with the purposes of this chapter; and
    Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §19132, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 450, §7, is amended
to read:
    10. Maine Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council. Oversee the
Maine Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council, established under section
24051, and direct a representative of the cabinet to meet at least once yearly with the Maine
Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council and consult with one or more state-
designated groups representing youth issues regarding goals selected by the Maine
Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council.; and
    Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §19132, sub-§11 is enacted to read:
     11. Coordination across state agencies. Establish a working group that includes the
Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote
coordinated policies, finances, programs and service delivery systems to support juveniles
involved in the juvenile justice system. The working group shall conduct a review of other
states in regard to best practices and organizational structures for juvenile justice services.
    Sec. 4. 34-A MRSA §7009 is enacted to read:
§7009. Publication of data
     By February 15, 2024, the department shall develop and publish on its publicly
accessible website data regarding the number of juveniles involved in the juvenile justice
system. The data must be updated monthly and include information regarding the numbers
of juveniles referred, diverted, detained, placed on probation, ordered to serve a period of
confinement and committed to the department. The department shall deidentify the data
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and remove any potential personal identifying information of the juveniles. The data must
be organized by region of the State and broken down by age, gender and race.
    Sec. 5. 34-A MRSA §7010 is enacted to read:
§7010. Reports regarding juvenile justice system
    1. Annual report regarding reducing detention rates and expanding community-
based alternatives. By February 15th of each year, the department shall provide an annual
report in person to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over
criminal justice and public safety matters. The report must include detailed information
regarding:
    A. The efforts of the department and the Department of Health and Human Services to
    offer diversion options for juveniles involved in the juvenile justice system and to
    reduce the rates of detention and commitment of youths across the State;
    B. The successes and challenges of the department and the Department of Health and
    Human Services in expanding access to community-based therapeutic services or
    programs for the purpose of diverting juveniles involved in the juvenile justice system
    from detention and commitment;
    C. A summary of the Long Creek Youth Development Center, including, but not
    limited to, the number of staff as of the December 1 preceding the report, staffing levels
    and the challenges at the facility;
    D. The strategic plan developed by the department and the Department of Health and
    Human Services and the Department of Corrections in consultation with the task force
    established by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group;
    E. The specific juvenile-focused community-based programs and services receiving
    funding from the department, including the amount of funding received by the
    community-based organizations providing the programs and services;
    F. The successes and challenges of the department in expanding juvenile-focused
    community-based programs and services; and
    G. Any other information the department determines is relevant to the report.
     2. Annual report regarding possible locations for secure, therapeutic residences
for detained and committed youths. By January 1st of each year, the department shall
provide an annual report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters on the status of the identification
and development of 2 small, secure, therapeutic residences for youths for the purpose of
providing detention and confinement for committed youths in a therapeutic setting. These
2 residences shall provide for a maximum occupancy of 20 youths. The report must include
rationale for the consideration of each identified residence, as well as an estimate on the
number of youths that will be served at the residence, an estimate of the cost for
construction and operation of the residence and staffing options for providing services at
the residence to youths living at the residence, including therapeutic programs and
educational services.
    Sec. 6. PL 2021, c. 398, §KKKK-4 is repealed.
    Sec. 7. PL 2021, c. 398, §KKKK-5 is repealed.
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Statutes affected: 
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 425: 5.19132