Community juvenile services boards.

WORKING DRAFT
2005
STATE OF WYOMING
05LSO-0548.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0318

Community juvenile services boards.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Landon

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to community juvenile services boards; expanding the purposes of community juvenile services boards as specified; amending definitions; specifying the services community juvenile services boards may provide; specifying membership of community juvenile services boards; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.
W.S. 14
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9
‑
102(a), 14
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9
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103(a)(iv) by creating new subparagraphs (M) and (N), 14
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9
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105, 14
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9
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106(b)(iii)(A) and by creating a new subsection (d) and 14
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9
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107(b) by creating a new paragraph (iv) are amended to read:

14
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9
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102.

Purpose.

(a)

The purpose and intent of this act is to:

(i)

Establish, maintain and promote the development of juvenile services in communities of the state aimed at allowing early identification and diversion of children at risk of entry into the juvenile court system, preventing juvenile delinquency and treating seriously emotionally disturbed youth;
and

(ii)

Allow decisions regarding juvenile services to be made at the local level
;
.

(iii)

Strengthen and improve community based mental health and substance abuse services to reduce out-of-home and out-of-community placement of juveniles;

(iv)

Provide services and interventions to retain children in school and increase graduation rates;

(v)

Ensure that services the community board participates in use best practices as defined in W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2702(a)(i).

14
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9
‑
103.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(iv)

"Juvenile services" means programs or services provided to children at risk of coming under
, or who are under,
the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including seriously emotionally disturbed youth. Programs or services may include:

(M)

Probation supervision services;

(N)

Alternative education services.

14
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9
‑
105.

Community juvenile services boards.

(a)

A county may, in accordance with the Wyoming Joint Powers Act, enter into an agreement with one (1) or more counties, any or all cities within the county or counties, and any or all school districts within the county or counties, to form a joint powers board to serve as a community juvenile services board under this act.
Membership of the community services boards shall include:

(i)

A local representative of the Wyoming department of family services;

(ii)

A regional representative of the Wyoming department of health;

(iii)

A representative of the district or county attorney's office;

(iv)

Representatives of local governments;

(v)

Any other members the board deems necessary to accomplish the goals of the board, including:

(A)

Representatives of local school districts;

(B)

A representative of the nearest mental health and substance abuse center;

(C)

A representative of private community juvenile service providers; and

(D)

Members of the faith and business communities.

14
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9
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106.

Community boards; powers and duties.

(b)

Subject to this act, a community board shall:

(iii)

Ensure that the community board's system of juvenile services provides for:

(A)

Use of
a
uniform screening
instrument
instruments identified by the department of family services, in consultation with the department of health and the department of education
;

(d)

A community board may contract with the department of family services to provide probation or other services. In counties where the board has contracted with the department for probation services, circuit courts may order that a juvenile who has been convicted of a crime participate in a probation supervision program established under this article, provided:

(i)

That the circuit court order is in compliance with the provisions of the contract between the board and the department;

(ii)

The juvenile probationer agrees to participate in the program;

(iii)

The board and the department determine the probationer has a reasonable likelihood of successfully participating in the program; and

(iv)

The legislature has appropriated funds or other grants and aid payments are available for the program.

14-9-107.

Department of family services to administer block grant program; powers and duties.

(b)

The departments of education, family services and health shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this act including rules relating to:

(iv)

The operation of a juvenile probation program for those counties that contract for those services as set forth in this act.
".

Section 2.

There is appropriated from the general fund to the department of family services two million three hundred thousand dollars ($2,300,000.00) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005, to implement the purposes of this act.

Section 3.
This act is effective July 1, 2005.

(END)

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HB0318