Committee moves substitute allowing DCYF temporary transfers when juvenile facilities exceed safe capacity

The House Early Learning and Human Services Committee reported a proposed substitute to House Bill 19‑17 out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation after extended discussion and mixed votes.

Committee counsel Luke Wickham summarized the substitute: "House Bill 19 17 is the bill that, requires the Department of Children, Youth and Families to develop, rules for the safe operational capacity of juvenile institutions, and allows, DCYF to transfer people out of juvenile institutions into DOC facilities once that number gets above 105%." The substitute was later clarified to allow transfers first to other DCYF juvenile institutions where capacity is under 105% and to require DCYF to notify county courts when an institution reaches 90% and again at 105%.

Under the substitute,…