PA HB1936

Requires children in detention or shelter care to have a hearing within 10 days of petition filing, with release mandated if the hearing is not held, subject to limited extensions requiring clear and convincing evidence of danger to the child, community, or flight risk

Allows an additional 10-day detention extension only if the court finds no community-based alternatives can ensure public safety and that the harm of continued detention is substantially outweighed by the need for detention

Mandates transfer of committed children to placement facilities within 20 business days, with courts permitted to hold review hearings to determine continued detention status if transfer is delayed

Requires courts to consider a child's total length of detention when issuing commitment orders of 18 months or more, including reducing harm from separation from home, school, and community

Establishes a presumption of release at disposition review hearings when a child completes placement services or the facility recommends release, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that release poses a significant public safety risk that cannot be mitigated by community-based services