Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

SENATE BILL 1406

 

AN ACT

 

establishing the juvenile corrections and justice reform study committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Juvenile corrections and justice reform study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The juvenile corrections and justice reform study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  The director of the department of juvenile corrections or the director's designee.

2.  The director of the administrative office of the courts or the director's designee.

3.  Four representatives from county governments to be appointed by an organization representing Arizona county supervisors, including a designee from Maricopa county, a designee from Pima county and designees from two rural counties.

4.  The following persons who are appointed by the governor:

(a)  One current or former judge who has experience with juvenile sentencing, the department of juvenile corrections and juvenile justice programs.

(b)  One prosecutor who has experience prosecuting juvenile offenders and with juvenile justice programs.

(c)  One attorney who has experience defending juvenile offenders in juvenile court and with juvenile justice programs.

(d)  One juvenile probation officer.

(e)  Three experts in the areas of the department of juvenile corrections' specialty treatment programs, which include substance abuse and dependency and addiction, mental health and sexualized behavior.

(f)  Other members determined by the governor to be essential for the functioning of this study committee.

B.  The study committee shall assess and report on the following:

1.  The current state of juvenile justice in this state and the programs and resources that are available to juveniles at the county level and at the department of juvenile corrections.

2.  The Adobe Mountain facility and any recommendations on the feasibility and cost savings of alternatives to detention of juveniles at the Adobe Mountain facility.

3.  The feasibility of and any cost savings associated with eliminating the department of juvenile corrections and reimbursing each county for the cost of incarcerating that county's juvenile offenders.

C.  On request of the study committee, any state agency, a political subdivision of this state or a juvenile court in this state shall provide the study committee with its services, equipment, documents, personnel and facilities to the extent possible without cost to the study committee.

D.  A majority of the members of the study committee constitutes a quorum.  The study committee members shall select a chairperson from among its members.  The study committee shall meet at any place deemed necessary or convenient by the chairperson.

E.  The legislature shall provide staff and support services to the study committee.

F.  Members of the study committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

G.  The study committee shall submit a report of its findings and any recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on or before December 31, 2017 and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

H.  This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2018.