Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Task Force

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the Legislature recognizes the immediate need to better coordinate services for juveniles in order to improve and protect their educational opportunities, safety and health; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Coordinated services district system. Resolved: That the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor shall develop a jointly agreed-upon statewide coordinated services district system by June 1, 2010. The system shall coordinate and implement service delivery initiatives to increase high school graduation rates, reduce the number of youth in the juvenile justice system, reduce child abuse and neglect and increase employment opportunities for youth. The system shall work with and report to the Children’s Cabinet and the commissioners who are members of the cabinet; and be it further

Sec. 2. Corrections demonstration projects. Resolved: That, by December 1, 2010, the Department of Corrections shall design and implement 2 demonstration projects that use a capitated funding model to provide services for youth who are in the juvenile justice system. The goals for the demonstration projects are to increase school completion and reduce the use of detention and incarceration. The demonstration projects shall include access to a full array of in-home and out-of-home placements and substance abuse and mental health services. The demonstration projects shall work with the coordinated services district system developed under section 1 and the Children’s Cabinet to coordinate services and to ensure flexible funding and timely response and provision of services. The demonstration projects must be funded with existing resources; and be it further

Sec. 3. Plan for in-home and out-of-home placements. Resolved: That, by June 1, 2010, the Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, shall develop a plan that will detail a statewide system for in-home and out-of-home placements for youth in the juvenile justice system. The plan must include funding options for emergency shelter placements, foster home placements and residential placements; and be it further

Sec. 4. Plan that identifies ongoing mechanism to ensure provision of flexible funding for youth services from multiple agencies. Resolved: That, by June 1, 2010, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education shall together develop a plan that identifies an ongoing mechanism for providing flexible funding for youth who are served by multiple state agencies. The plan must include resources from public, private and nonprofit sectors; and be it further

Sec. 5. Report; legislation. Resolved: That, by January 15, 2011, the Department of Corrections shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over juvenile justice issues progress on the implementation of this resolve. The Department of Corrections shall include with its progress report proposed legislation necessary to implement the initiatives. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over juvenile justice issues may introduce legislation to the 125th Legislature based on the department's report.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This emergency resolve implements the recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Task Force. The resolve includes directives to the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor to develop a statewide coordinated services district system. The system will be responsible for coordinating and implementing service delivery initiatives for the purpose of increasing high school graduation rates, reducing the number of youth in the juvenile justice system, reducing child abuse and neglect and increasing employment opportunities for youth. The resolve also directs the system to work with the Children’s Cabinet.

The resolve directs the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan that will detail a statewide system for in-home and out-of-home placements for youth in the juvenile justice system. The plan must include funding options for emergency shelter placements, foster home placements and residential placements. The Department of Corrections, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education are also directed to develop a plan that identifies an ongoing mechanism for providing flexible funding for youth who are served by multiple state agencies. The plan must include resources from public, private and nonprofit sectors.

The resolve requires that the Department of Corrections report progress on these cooperative initiatives to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over juvenile justice matters by January 15, 2011 and gives that committee authority to introduce suggested legislation to implement the recommendations to the 125th Legislature.