Senate panel approves bill to release unspent juvenile reimbursement funds to counties

Senator Centra Urban told the Senate Judiciary Committee she was presenting SB647, a revenue-neutral measure to allow remaining unexpended funds that had been appropriated for reimbursement to counties for juvenile officers to be released to counties for juvenile services. "This allows remaining appropriated funds to be used for continued juvenile justice reform," Urban said, adding the bill provides a mechanism to address staffing disparities in economically challenged counties and to support counties implementing the validated risk assessment tool referenced earlier in juvenile reform work.

Jennifer Kron, juvenile division director with the Administrative Office of the Courts, told the committee the money comes from State Central Services and is funded in the appropriation bill for the session: "It's currently SB67 ... $3,582,810," she told the committee. Kron said the funds are reimbursements for salaries already paid and that counties submit requests for reimbursement under existing statute.

Members questioned how the funds would be redistributed if a county failed to submit reimbursement documentation by the January 1 deadline; Kron and Senator Urban said the bill's intent is to permit distribution to other counties based on factors listed in the bill, and that a county that later submits documentation could still be eligible. After brief discussion the committee voted to pass the bill by voice vote.

The committee recorded no formal roll-call on SB647 in the transcript; Senator Urban thanked committee members after the vote. The next procedural step is transmittal to the full chamber and the House, where funding and implementation details will continue to be reviewed.