Bill > S631

This bill provides funding and salary increases for juvenile justice staff in North Carolina, specifically targeting Youth Counselor Technicians, Youth Services Behavioral Specialists, Youth Counselors, and Juvenile Court Counselors in the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The bill appropriates $10.4 million in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and $14.1 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with $3.9 million allocated to reduce salary compression. The legislation establishes new salary schedules for these positions, offering incremental pay increases based on years of experience, with salaries rising between approximately 4-6% across different experience levels during the two-year period. For example, a Youth Counselor Technician's annual salary would increase from $40,908 in fiscal year 2025-26 to $42,953 in fiscal year 2026-27. Similarly, Juvenile Court Counselors would see their salaries increase from a starting range of $49,391 to $51,861 over the same period. The bill is designed to improve compensation and retention for juvenile justice workforce professionals and is set to take effect when it becomes law, with specific salary schedules implemented from July 1, 2025.