Bill > H1599

This bill establishes a new Youth Court Justice Fund to support restorative justice programs for juvenile offenders. The fund will be created as a separate account managed by the state treasurer and administered by the secretary of public safety. The fund will receive 34% of the proceeds from asset forfeitures related to drug offenses, with at least half of those funds specifically directed to Youth Courts - which are defined as non-profit or public administrative forums where first-time juvenile misdemeanor offenders receive sanctions recommended by similarly aged volunteers. The bill authorizes the secretary of public safety to make annual grants to youth court and juvenile diversion programs using a restorative justice model. Grant recipients must provide annual reports detailing their funds and expenditures. Additionally, the bill requires various law enforcement and public safety officials (including district attorneys, the attorney general, state police, and local police chiefs) to file detailed online reports by February 15th each year, documenting the total amounts collected from asset forfeitures and how those funds were spent. These reporting requirements aim to increase transparency in how these funds are collected and distributed, with the ultimate goal of supporting alternative approaches to juvenile justice that emphasize rehabilitation and community involvement.