Bill > HB1021

This bill updates Pennsylvania's laws regarding juvenile detention facilities, repealing older provisions and establishing new requirements for how counties manage rooms or buildings used to confine and care for juveniles awaiting trial or hearing. The bill mandates that county commissioners provide separate, dedicated spaces for detaining juveniles and establishes a detailed governance structure for these facilities, including a board of managers composed of county officials and six private citizens with expertise in juvenile development, mental health, and substance use disorders. The board members will be appointed by county commissioners and the president judge, serve three-year terms without compensation, and have responsibilities such as appointing a superintendent, managing staff, and conducting regular facility visits. The bill requires annual reporting to county executives and the Department of Human Services, including details about facility operations like physical restraints, overcrowding, and educational programs. Counties can appropriate funds or issue bonds to purchase, construct, and equip these juvenile detention spaces, and the new provisions apply to various county classes across Pennsylvania. The law takes effect 60 days after its passage, providing counties time to adapt to the new requirements for managing juvenile detention facilities.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1021