RS 1442 - Louisiana Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning Implementation Committee; composition; authority; responsibilities
A. The Louisiana Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee, hereafter referred to as the "committee", is hereby created as a committee of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission established pursuant to R.S. 46:2751 et seq.
B. The committee shall have the following authority, duties, and responsibilities:
(1) Not later than January 1, 2017, the committee shall develop and submit to the commissioner of administration, the president of the Senate, and the speaker of the House of Representatives a plan for full implementation of the provisions of this Chapter. The plan shall include recommendations for changes required in the juvenile justice system to expand jurisdiction to include persons seventeen years of age. These recommendations may include the following items:
(a) The development of programs and policies that can safely reduce the number of youth in the juvenile justice system, including expanded use of diversion where appropriate; development and use of civil citation programs; use of evidence-based and promising services wherever possible; and reinvestment programs targeting the expanded use of community-based alternatives to secure, nonsecure, and pre-disposition custody.
(b) The development of comprehensive projections to determine the long-term distribution of placement capacity for youth in the juvenile justice system.
(c) An analysis of the impact of the expansion of juvenile jurisdiction to persons seventeen years of age on state agencies and a determination of which state agencies shall be responsible for providing relevant services to juveniles, including but not limited to mental health and substance abuse services, housing, education, and employment.
(2) Not later than April 1, 2017, and quarterly thereafter, the committee shall submit a written status report to the commissioner of administration, the president of the Senate, and the speaker of the House of Representatives on implementation of the plan as provided in this Subsection.
(3) The committee shall have such powers, authority, and prerogatives as provided for the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission pursuant to R.S. 46:2754 et seq.
C. The committee shall be composed of the following members:
(1) Each member of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission shall be an ex officio member.
(2) Two sitting Louisiana judges: one appointed by the president of the Louisiana District Judges Association and one appointed by the president of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
(3) The deputy secretary of the office of juvenile justice, or his designee.
(4) The superintendent of the state Department of Education, or his designee.
(5) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, or his designee.
(6) The president of the Louisiana Juvenile Detention Association, or his designee.
(7) An attorney appointed by the Louisiana Public Defender Board that is an expert in juvenile defense.
(8) The executive director of the Children's Cabinet.
(9) The director of the Institute for Public Health and Justice, or his designee.
(10) Two child or youth advocates, one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives.
(11) Two parents of children who have been involved in the juvenile justice system, one appointed by the executive director of the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong Learning and one appointed by the executive director of the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana.
(12) An expert in juvenile justice, appointed by the chair of the Children's Code Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
(13) Two youth representatives who have been prosecuted in criminal court at the age of seventeen, one appointed by the executive director of LouisianaChildren.org and one appointed by the executive director of the Family and Youth Counseling Agency of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
(14) A representative of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana.
(15) An attorney appointed by the Louisiana District Attorneys Association that is an expert in juvenile prosecution.
D.(1) All appointments to the committee shall be made not later than September 1, 2016. Any vacancy on the committee shall be filled by the respective appointing authority.
(2) The executive director of the Children's Cabinet shall serve as chair of the committee and shall convene the committee no later than October 1, 2016.
(3) The members of the committee shall serve without compensation, except the compensation to which they may be individually entitled to as a member or employee of their respective organization or agency.
(4) A majority of the total committee membership shall constitute a quorum and any official action by the committee shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
(5) The committee shall conduct meetings as it deems necessary to fully and effectively perform its duties and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Chapter and may receive testimony and information relative to any of the subjects enumerated in this Chapter.
(6) The committee shall terminate on December 31, 2020.
Acts 2016, No. 501, §1, eff. June 14, 2016.