County juvenile courts could seek state funds for youth services

The Department of Human Services would review county juvenile court applications and could approve grants for operating youth care and service programs. The program would cover people under 18 who have been found delinquent or are at risk of that finding. Each application must include an annual agreement naming the services and a method to ensure equal access for minority youths. Grants would depend on the amount lawmakers set aside each year. These provisions would take effect 60 days after the measure becomes law.

County treasurers would create separate funds, and Human Services would calculate and pay each county's allocation. Every Pennsylvania county and its juvenile court would be covered. Money could not be mixed with other county money or moved into the county's general fund at year-end. It could not pay for capital construction or reduce current county support or a usual yearly funding increase. Unused money would carry over, but Human Services would withhold and reallocate any amount above the applicable cap unless it grants an exemption. The carryover cap would begin June 30, 2027: 100% of the prior year's allocation for fiscal year 2027, 50% for 2028, and 25% for 2029 and later years.

An advisory committee would help oversee the program, and Human Services would write temporary and permanent rules. Members would represent state agencies, lawmakers, juvenile court judges and administrators, and county commissioners. The committee would meet at least every three months and evaluate the program, county implementation, and allocation formula at least once each fiscal year. It could recommend changes to the program's laws, funding, and allocation formula. Members would be named within 30 days after the law takes effect, and the first meeting would occur within 60 days. Temporary rules would be issued within 120 days and expire no later than two years after publication; permanent rules would be proposed before then.