Senate discussion centers on Oakley upgrades, per-diem cap and $9M diversion request

Funding and facility capacity were recurring themes during floor questions on SB2001.

Senators asked where children would be placed if facilities lacked beds and how much the state would pay versus counties. Senator Wiggins said the package includes state-funded upgrades to Oakley (currently described on the floor as about 30 beds) and an appropriation for DHS to assess facilities statewide. He said counties would be capped at a $100 per-diem with the state covering costs above that amount.

On diversion funding, Wiggins cited a recent DHS request for about $9 million to operate diversion programs and noted the appropriation package before the Legislature would address that need. Senator Sparks and others pushed for clarity about oversight and whether existing intervention programs would be consolidated or duplicated; the sponsor said some existing youth-and-family intervention funds are being coordinated and asked appropriators to reconcile program budgets.

Senators asked for a facility inventory and staffing plans; the sponsor said that assessment is expected to be delivered during appropriation deliberations and in the January 2027 work period.