The "Crossover Youth Act" is designed to support children who are involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, known as "crossover youth." The Act establishes a new program within the department to coordinate services for these youth, appointing a program coordinator to enhance collaboration among various divisions and agencies. It mandates annual training for staff in protective services and juvenile justice, focusing on issues pertinent to crossover youth, such as cultural humility and trauma's impact on child development. The Act also emphasizes joint case management and interagency collaboration to provide comprehensive support for these youth and their families.

Additionally, the Act outlines basic rights for crossover youth, including visitation rights for siblings and parents during legal custody placements, and amends the Delinquency Act to include the term "crossover youth." It specifies the rights of parents, guardians, and custodians during preliminary inquiries involving detained crossover youth. The bill also introduces new provisions for probation services, requiring notification of felony complaints to the children's court attorney and allowing waivers of time limitations on adjudication. A key addition is the requirement for probation revocation petitions to include a statement from the juvenile justice division on efforts made to assist the youth. The Act appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to establish and staff a crossover youth program, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund at the end of fiscal year 2026.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-2-3, 30-2-1, 32A-2-24