The bill amends the Juvenile Diversion Act to enhance the handling of records related to juvenile diversion programs. It establishes that records kept under this act can only be used to make decisions regarding the diversion of minors, with a new provision allowing individuals or organizations to submit research requests for access to these records. If granted, a data use agreement must be negotiated to protect personally identifiable information from public disclosure. The state court administrative office is responsible for creating this agreement and may charge researchers for processing costs. Additionally, the bill mandates that courts maintain records of all research requests received and granted.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that risk screening tools and mental health screenings conducted during diversion proceedings are not admissible in adjudicatory hearings and are protected from subpoenas. It introduces definitions for "data use agreement" and "personally identifiable information" to ensure clarity in the handling of sensitive data. The amendments are set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 722.829
As Passed by the House: 722.829