S.B. 270 revises judicial‑release and emergency‑release rules for youths in Department of Youth Services custody

Senators Manning and Hicks‑Hudson's S.B. 270 revises procedures by which children committed to the Department of Youth Services may be released early, placed on supervised release, or discharged. The bill amends court and department responsibilities for judicial release hearings, treatment and rehabilitation plans, progress reporting, and notice requirements to courts, prosecutors and victims.

The bill expands the detail on judicial release under R.C. 2152.22, specifying time windows (first half, second half, and after prescribed minimum periods) when the committing court may grant judicial release to court supervision or to department supervision, the process for requests by the department, the child or parents, timing for hearings, and the department's duties to prepare written treatment and rehabilitation plans and periodic progress reports at least once every 30 days unless the court directs otherwise. The bill reiterates that release dates are contingent on the department finding a suitable placement.

S.B. 270 also authorizes an "emergency overcrowding" mechanism: the department director may, if the governor authorizes in writing that an emergency overcrowding condition exists for male or female facilities, issue a declaration and grant emergency releases for up to 30 days after filing the declaration with the secretary of state. The department must classify eligible children by offense category and may grant emergency supervised releases, discharges, or assignments to family homes or community placements consistent with the bill's specified ordering and safeguards. Children granted emergency release remain under department legal custody until discharged by the department or as otherwise provided by law, and the department must prepare the same written treatment and rehabilitation plans and progress reports required for judicial releases.