Summary of Substitute Bill No. 5506

• Expands the definition of "family with service needs" to include children ages 7-17 who are truant or habitually truant, continuously defiant of school rules, or ages 13+ who engaged in sexual intercourse with another person within two years of age, effective October 1, 2024.

• Establishes a new complaint and assessment process where parents can file written complaints with Superior Court, requiring probation officers to assess cases and refer families to youth services bureaus or family support centers for at least 90 days before court petitions.

• Authorizes courts to issue summons, order educational evaluations for habitually truant children, and order various dispositions including probation supervision, Department of Children and Families services, community services, or commitment to care for up to 18 months.

• Creates requirements for permanency hearings within 12 months of commitment and every 12 months thereafter, with commissioners filing permanency plans that must include goals for revocation, guardianship transfer, relative placement, adoption, or other planned arrangements.

• Establishes family support centers to be contracted by the Court Support Services Division to provide services including screening, crisis intervention, family mediation, mental health treatment, and educational advocacy to prevent further court involvement.