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Committee examines juvenile justice budget, Jetson intake plan and staffing, seeks more funding for treatment and reentry
Summary
The Senate Finance Committee reviewed the Office of Juvenile Justice FY26 recommendation, covering new Jetson beds, population trends, recidivism and efforts to expand vocational and clinical programs. Senators pressed OJJ on staffing vacancies, recreation funding and follow‑up treatment for youth.
The Senate Finance Committee discussed the Office of Juvenile Justice’s FY26 budget recommendation and operational plans, including interim funding for Jetson Center beds, new vocational programming, staffing efforts and measures to reduce recidivism.
Carrie Couvillion of the Senate Fiscal Services Division presented the OJJ budget. She said FY26 recommended authority increases to about $197.8 million with 1,070 authorized TO positions, a net increase of approximately $19.5 million over current year authority. The largest single agency‑specific adjustment listed was a request of about $12.7 million and 77 TO to fund 44 interim beds at Jetson as the facility transitions to a new Jetson campus and the state prepares a new secure facility. Couvillion also listed projected supplemental needs for FY25 totaling roughly $22.7 million, mostly for personal services and contract services.
Secretary Damon Lofton (Secretary Lofton in transcript) and Undersecretary Jason Starnes described operational priorities.…
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