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Bill > SB125


KY SB125

KY SB125
AN ACT relating to juvenile justice.


summary

Introduced
01/27/2026
In Committee
03/16/2026
Crossed Over
03/03/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 200 to define terms; establish procedures for a child charged with a public offense to determine if the child is a high acuity youth; establish procedures for securing a treatment plan and dispute resolution through a review process and the court if the parties cannot agree to a plan; require a 24-hour protocol for health facilities, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the courts to direct care; establish reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care of a child by psychiatric hospitals and pediatric teaching hospitals; establish procedures for discharge and transfer of the child from an inpatient admission under specific circumstances; amend KRS 15A.305 to include a mental health facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice as an identified facility for the detention and treatment of children; direct the operation of 2 female-only facilities with authority to increase as population increases; direct reimbursement rates for local governments lodging juveniles to be set by administrative regulation; amend KRS 600.020 to remove and add defined terms; amend KRS 610.265 to remove beginning date that is past; amend KRS 610.340 to enable release of information in specific circumstances; amend various sections of KRS to conform; authorize the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to construct a high acuity youth mental health facility, subject to funding; direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide clinical services; direct the Department of Juvenile Justice to continue to implement the plan to return to a regional model of detention.

AI Summary

This bill aims to improve the juvenile justice system by establishing new procedures for identifying and treating "high acuity youth," which are children charged with offenses who exhibit significant aggression, violence, or property destruction and require specialized care. It mandates a behavioral assessment for such youth before admission to inpatient psychiatric facilities, requiring collaboration between healthcare providers, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to develop and agree upon treatment plans, with court involvement for dispute resolution. The bill also directs the creation of a new high acuity youth mental health facility, establishes protocols for 24-hour care coordination, sets reimbursement rates for psychiatric care, and outlines procedures for discharge and transfer. Additionally, it modifies existing laws to include DJJ-operated mental health facilities for detention and treatment, mandates the operation of two female-only juvenile facilities with provisions for expansion, and directs how local governments are reimbursed for lodging juveniles. The bill also clarifies the release of information in specific circumstances and authorizes the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to construct the new mental health facility, contingent on funding, while CHFS will provide clinical services and DJJ will continue its plan to return to a regional detention model.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Justice

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

returned to Judiciary (H) (on 04/01/2026)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb125.html
Vote History for SB125 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb125/vote_history.pdf
BillText https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb125/bill.pdf
Fiscal Note to Senate Committee Substitute 2 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS2FN.pdf
Local Mandate to Senate Committee Substitute 2 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS2LM.pdf
Corrections Impact to Senate Committee Substitute 2 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS2CI.pdf
Senate Committee Substitute 2 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/SB125/SCS2.pdf
Corrections Impact for SCS2 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS2CI.pdf
Local Mandate Fiscal Impact for SCS2 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS2LM.pdf
Local Mandate to Senate Committee Substitute 1 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS1LM.pdf
Corrections Impact to Senate Committee Substitute 1 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS1CI.pdf
Senate Committee Substitute 1 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/SB125/SCS1.pdf
Corrections Impact for SCS1 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS1CI.pdf
Local Mandate Fiscal Impact for SCS1 https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/SCS1LM.pdf
BillText https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb125/orig_bill.pdf
Corrections Impact https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/CI.pdf
Local Mandate Fiscal Impact https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb125/LM.pdf
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