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. Create and coordinate a service system. Resolved: That the Department of Corrections, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the Department of Labor, 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 coordinated services district system must be funded with existing resources; and be it further

Sec. 3. Plan for in-home and out-of-home placements. Resolved: That, by September 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 January 15, 2011, 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.

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