This bill authorizes the Department of Corrections in South Dakota to conduct a comprehensive study of juvenile correctional and residential facilities. The study will evaluate best practices in juvenile detention and treatment, therapeutic pod housing models, vocational training and mental health integration, and staff-to-youth ratios and safety protocols in non-traditional settings. It mandates on-site inspections and interviews at a minimum of three facilities outside the state.

To support this initiative, the bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund to the Department of Corrections and requires the department to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council by September 1, 2026. Additionally, it outlines the approval process for expenditures related to the study and states that any unspent funds will revert according to existing procedures. The bill also declares an emergency, allowing it to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.