The Florida Senate

985.4135  Juvenile justice circuit boards and juvenile justice county councils.--

(1)  There is authorized a juvenile justice circuit board to be established in each of the 20 judicial circuits and a juvenile justice county council to be established in each of the 67 counties. The purpose of each juvenile justice circuit board and each juvenile justice county council is to provide advice and direction to the department in the development and implementation of juvenile justice programs and to work collaboratively with the department in seeking program improvements and policy changes to address the emerging and changing needs of Florida's youth who are at risk of delinquency.

(2)  Each juvenile justice county council shall develop a juvenile justice prevention and early intervention plan for the county and shall collaborate with the circuit board and other county councils assigned to that circuit in the development of a comprehensive plan for the circuit.

(3)  Juvenile justice circuit boards and county councils shall also participate in facilitating interagency cooperation and information sharing.

(4)  Juvenile justice circuit boards and county councils may apply for and receive public or private grants to be administered by one of the community partners that support one or more components of the county or circuit plan.

(5)  Juvenile justice circuit boards and county councils shall advise and assist the department in the evaluation and award of prevention and early intervention grant programs, including the Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grant program established in s. 985.415 and proceeds from the Invest in Children license plate annual use fees.

(6)  Each juvenile justice circuit board shall provide an annual report to the department describing the activities of the circuit board and each of the county councils contained within its circuit. The department may prescribe a format and content requirements for submission of annual reports.

(7)  Membership of the juvenile justice circuit board may not exceed 18 members, except as provided in subsections (8) and (9). Members must include the state attorney, the public defender, and the chief judge of the circuit, or their respective designees. The remaining 15 members of the board must be appointed by the county councils within that circuit. The board must include at least one representative from each county council within the circuit. In appointing members to the circuit board, the county councils must reflect:

(a)  The circuit's geography and population distribution.

(b)  Juvenile justice partners, including, but not limited to, representatives of law enforcement, the school system, and the Department of Children and Family Services.

(c)  Diversity in the judicial circuit.

(8)  At any time after the adoption of initial bylaws pursuant to subsection (12), a juvenile justice circuit board may revise the bylaws to increase the number of members by not more than three in order to adequately reflect the diversity of the population and community organizations or agencies in the circuit.

(9)  If county councils are not formed within a circuit, the circuit board may establish its membership in accordance with subsection (10). For juvenile justice circuit boards organized pursuant to this subsection, the state attorney, public defender, and chief circuit judge, or their respective designees, shall be members of the circuit board.

(10)  Membership of the juvenile justice county councils, or juvenile justice circuit boards established under subsection (9), may include representatives from the following entities:

(a)  Representatives from the school district, which may include elected school board officials, the school superintendent, school or district administrators, teachers, and counselors.

(b)  Representatives of the board of county commissioners.

(c)  Representatives of the governing bodies of local municipalities within the county.

(d)  A representative of the corresponding circuit or regional entity of the Department of Children and Family Services.

(e)  Representatives of local law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff or the sheriff's designee.

(f)  Representatives of the judicial system.

(g)  Representatives of the business community.

(h)  Representatives of other interested officials, groups, or entities, including, but not limited to, a children's services council, public or private providers of juvenile justice programs and services, students, parents, and advocates. Private providers of juvenile justice programs may not exceed one-third of the voting membership.

(i)  Representatives of the faith community.

(j)  Representatives of victim-service programs and victims of crimes.

(k)  Representatives of the Department of Corrections.

(11)  Each juvenile justice county council, or juvenile justice circuit board established under subsection (9), must provide for the establishment of an executive committee of not more than 10 members. The duties and authority of the executive committee must be addressed in the bylaws.

(12)  Each juvenile justice circuit board and county council shall develop bylaws that provide for officers and committees as the board or council deems necessary and shall specify the qualifications, method of selection, and term for each office created. The bylaws shall address at least the following issues: process for appointments to the board or council; election or appointment of officers; filling of vacant positions; duration of member terms; provisions for voting; meeting attendance requirements; and the establishment and duties of an executive committee, if required under subsection (11).

(13)  Members of juvenile justice circuit boards and county councils are subject to the provisions of part III of chapter 112.

History.--s. 50, ch. 2000-135; s. 12, ch. 2005-263.