HB 5562 Summary

• Department of Correction shall not hold anyone under 18 years old in its custody after January 1, 2021; a plan for implementation must be submitted by October 1, 2019.

• Changes juvenile justice terminology and dispositions: replaces "convicted" with "adjudicated," eliminates commitment to Department of Children and Families, and establishes two probation options—probation supervision (up to 18 months, extendable to 30 months) or probation supervision with residential placement in secure or staff-secure facilities.

• Transfers educational responsibility for youth in detention and residential facilities to local school boards; requires school districts to maintain liaisons with justice system, ensure prompt enrollment and credit transfer, and keep students enrolled during detention.

• Establishes centralized statewide education system for youth in justice system custody under a single state agency by January 1, 2021, with quality controls, accountability measures, and support for educational transitions.

• Implements community-based and school-based diversion programs; requires Technical High School System to provide vocational training and amend admissions criteria for youth returning from custody by January 1, 2020.