REGIONALIZATION PLAN

(a) The department shall develop and the board shall adopt a regionalization plan for keeping children closer to home in lieu of commitment to the secure facilities operated by the department under Subtitle C.

(a-1) The department shall update and submit the regionalization plan developed under Subsection (a) to the Sunset Advisory Commission and standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over juvenile justice matters by December 1 of each even-numbered year. Before submitting the plan, the department must present an updated draft of the regionalization plan to the board for public comment and board approval.

(a-2) The department may incorporate relevant suggestions, needs, or recommendations from the regionalization plan into subsequent strategic plans, legislative appropriation requests, and any other necessary document to support the plan's implementation.

(b) The department shall consult with juvenile probation departments in developing a regionalization plan, including the identification of:

(1) post-adjudication facility capacity that may be dedicated to support the plan; and

(2) resources needed to implement the plan.

(b-1) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (b), in developing the regionalization plan, the department shall consult with:

(1) the advisory council on juvenile services;

(2) juvenile probation departments;

(3) regional juvenile probation associations;

(4) advocacy groups;

(5) parents and guardians of children under the jurisdiction of the department;

(6) individuals formerly involved in the juvenile justice system; and

(7) any other stakeholder the department determines may be helpful.

(c) The regionalization plan must define regions of the state to be served by facilities operated by juvenile probation departments, counties, halfway houses, or private operators, based on the post-adjudication facilities identified as being available for the purpose of the plan.

(e) The regionalization plan must, as applicable:

(1) include a budget review, redirection of staff, and funding mechanisms necessary to support the plan;

(2) create a new division of the department responsible for administering the regionalization plan and monitoring program quality and accountability;

(3) for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2017, and each subsequent state fiscal year, include any savings that are generated by the decreases in the population of the secure facilities operated by the department under Subtitle C that exceed the cost of implementing the plan;

(4) include:

(A) information on the department's compliance with statutory regionalization requirements;

(B) information on internal goals for diverting children from commitment to the department; and

(C) an analysis of rates of commitment to the custody of the department, broken down by region and county, and any relevant recommendations regarding trends in these rates; and

(5) include specific, actionable steps regarding how the department will enhance regional capacity, coordination, and collaboration among juvenile probation departments to keep children closer to home as an alternative to commitment to the department's facilities while ensuring access to programs and the supervision necessary to maintain public safety.

(e-1) In developing the steps under Subsection (e)(5), the department shall consider:

(1) options to target or expand funding for juvenile probation departments to enhance community-based programs and maximize the use of existing juvenile justice beds;

(2) opportunities to use financial and other incentives to encourage diversion, facilitate cooperation within and across the regions established under Subsection (c), and emphasize the benefits of sharing available resources among counties;

(3) plans for creating additional capacity to minimize gaps in juvenile justice beds and services at the local level, including the expansion or development of beds and facilities designated specifically for regional use; and

(4) processes for downsizing, closing, or repurposing large state secure facilities to shift toward a more regionally based juvenile justice system.

(f) The division created under Subsection (e)(2) shall:

(1) approve plans and related protocols to administer the developed regional model;

(2) provide training on best practices for all local probation departments affected by the regionalization plan;

(3) assist in research-based program development;

(4) monitor contract and program measures for the regionalization plan;

(5) analyze department data to provide clear guidance to local probation departments on outcome measures; and

(6) report on performance of specific programs and placements to assist in implementing best practices and maximize the impact of state funds.

(g) A region is eligible for funding to support evidence-based, intensive in-home services only if the region meets the performance standards established by the department and adopted in contracts for placement and services.

(h) The department shall adopt rules to allow the local probation departments implementing the regionalization plan to access the data submitted by those departments in the state juvenile case management system for planning and research purposes. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 962 (S.B. 1630 ), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 950 (S.B. 1727 ), Sec. 26, eff. September 1, 2023.