KY SB170

Establishes a 4-year SOAR (Supporting Opportunities for Accountability and Restoration) pilot program beginning August 1, 2026, in at least 10 public school districts selected by the Chief Justice to address school attendance barriers for students in grades 6-12 with more than 5 unexcused absences

Creates RISE (Responsive Interventions to Support and Empower) teams at participating schools, comprising school officials, social workers, mental health representatives, and court-designated workers to develop family-specific improvement plans and connect families with resources

Modifies detention rules for status offenders: children under 16 cannot be held in secure juvenile detention facilities, while those 16 and older may be detained in secure facilities for violations of valid court orders, with a maximum detention period of 30 days

Requires court-designated workers to conduct family needs assessments, facilitate RISE team meetings, and provide case management services; extends diversion agreement failure threshold from 4 to 8 unexcused absences before automatic failure

Mandates annual reporting by the Administrative Office of the Courts and Kentucky Department of Education on program outcomes, including students referred, services provided, completion rates, and truancy complaints filed, with reports due to the Legislative Research Commission beginning July 1, 2027