HB 551

Abstract

Juvenile community correctional centers; establishment; placement of juveniles. Changes the name of "juvenile correctional centers" to "juvenile community correctional centers." The bill further provides that any juvenile community correctional center establishedafter July 1, 2020, shall (i) be located within a locality in whichat least five percent of all juvenile commitments occur statewide,using an average of the rate of commitments of three consecutiveyears, and (ii) be designed to confine 30 juveniles or fewer. Thebill also states that the Department shall place children at thejuvenile community correctional center located closest to their primaryresidence and within one hour of such residence via motor vehicleand within one and one-half hours of such residence via public transportation.If such placement is not available, the Department shall use an alternativeplacement that is closest to the juvenile's primary residence, suchas a local juvenile detention center. Under current law, the Departmentmay place such children at such facilities as are available.