HB2278 Summary

• Creates the Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice Board with 15-33 members appointed by the Governor, with no more than 5 state employees and no more than 2 Division of Youth Services employees.

• Board members serve three-year terms with a limit of two consecutive terms and must wait at least two years after completing consecutive terms before returning.

• Board duties include supervising federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act funds, pursuing federal funding opportunities, directing fund expenditures, overseeing departmental expenditures, and reviewing reports from appointed committees focused on the Act's four core requirements.

• Board may contract with the Department of Human Services for support services and must notify the department of compliance failures that result in loss of federal funding before terminating any support contract.

• Board must report quarterly to the Governor and relevant legislative committees and submit the state juvenile justice plan to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2013, and every two years thereafter.