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CS/SB 1322 — Juvenile Detention Costs
by Appropriations Committee and Senator Latvala
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Appropriations Committee (AP)
This bill creates s. 985.6585, F.S., relating to payment for the costs of juvenile detention care that is provided by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The bill revises the method for calculating the share of detention care costs that must be paid by each county that is not a fiscally constrained county and that does not provide its own detention care for juveniles. The new method applies to any county that: (1) dismisses all actions against the state that are related to detention costs; and (2) releases and waives any existing or future claim arising from detention cost share prior to Fiscal Year 2016-2017. Any county that does not fulfill the conditions will be billed according to the existing method set out in s. 985.686, F.S.
The share of detention costs for each county that meets the conditions of the new statute will be based on the percentage of detention days used for that county’s juveniles in the most recently completed 12-month period compared to detention days used for all counties that are not fiscally constrained during the same period. For Fiscal Year 2016-2017, each such county’s payment will be calculated by multiplying the county’s percentage of detention day use by $42.5 million. For Fiscal Year 2017-2018 and thereafter, each such county’s payment will be calculated by multiplying the county’s percentage of detention day use by 50 percent of total detention care costs in the prior fiscal year for all counties that are not a fiscally constrained county. The DJJ is responsible for paying the remainder of detention costs.
The bill includes an appropriation of $7.3 million in recurring funds and $3.5 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund for Fiscal Year 2016-2017. This appropriation is a supplement to funds appropriated to the DJJ in the 2016-2017 General Appropriations Act for the purpose of paying the state’s share of costs for juvenile detention.
If approved by the Governor, the majority of the bill’s provisions take effect upon becoming law. By exception, the appropriation takes effect July 1, 2016.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 117-0