SB155 Summary

• Implements Alabama Juvenile Justice Task Force recommendations by substantially revising juvenile justice system provisions, including expanded early interventions, detention risk assessment tools, and standards for informal adjustments.

• Eliminates fines and court costs against children while preserving ability to assess them against parents; requires courts to consider validated risk and needs assessments before placing youth in Department of Youth Services custody.

• Creates Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Fund administered by Department of Youth Services to reinvest averted costs from reduced youth placements into community-based programs and evidence-based services across all counties.

• Requires local school boards and State Department of Education to develop multi-disciplinary agreements addressing school-based offenses and establish early warning truancy prevention programs before court referral.

• Permits video detention hearings, establishes Juvenile Justice Fund Oversight Committee to coordinate implementation and data collection, and provides courts discretion on sex offender registration requirements for juveniles.