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Minutes for HB2329 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Providing for increased placement of juvenile offenders in non-foster home beds in youth residential facilities, requiring the secretary of corrections to pay for the costs associated with such placements and authorizing the secretary to make expenditures from the evidence-based programs account of the state general fund moneys to contract for such beds in youth residential facilities.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 17, 2025
HB2329 was scheduled for a hearing on a previous day, but time did not permit it to begin. It was re-scheduled for today.
Jason Thompson gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 3)
Kristalle Hedrick, Children's Alliance, spoke in favor of the bill. Youth placed in foster care, who are identified as high risk, may put other children in danger. Foster care is not necessarily meeting the needs of children with a criminal history or behaviors. (Attachment 4)
Angela Hedrick, KVC, expressed concern of placing juvenile offenders within the child welfare system, which puts strain on staff and has increased incidents of violence and aggression in foster homes. (Attachment 5)
Jim Howell, Sedgwick County commissioner, spoke in favor of the bill. He testified the (2016)SB367 was good legislation but went too far, as it opened foster care and Department for Children and Families to take care of juvenile offenders. And they are less likely to be held accountable for their criminal behaviors. (no written testimony)
Matt Stephens, Saint Francis Ministries, expressed support for the bill as it addresses current gaps in the system by expanding placement options for high-need youths. He asserted foster care does not have the proper level of care necessary for juvenile offenders. His organization has lost foster families who are unwilling to accept juvenile offenders due to experiencing vandalism, stolen property and sometimes violent behaviors. (Attachment 6)
Stephen M. Howe, Office of District Attorney, Johnson County testified in favor of the bill. He stated the 2017 juvenile justice reforms removed options for high-risk juveniles with the intent to put any money into local community resources. Allocating such resources has been difficult and challenging, especially in rural communities. (Attachment 7)
Ron Paschal, speaking on behalf of Marc Bennett, District Attorney, 18th Judicial District, stated that eight years after the passage of (2016)SB367, juvenile prosecutions can end in probation, incarceration or a motion to send the offender to the adult court. The bill offers Kansas judges another option to place such youth in a residential facility. (Attachment 8)
Sheriff Jeffrey Easter, on behalf of Sedgwick County, testified as a proponent. He urged the committee to consider that foster homes and child welfare group homes cannot handle juvenile offenders or provide the accountability and necessary treatment for the population. (Attachment 9)
Steven Stonehouse, Sedgwick County Department of Corrections, testified in support of the bill. He spoke in favor of certain elements in the (2016)SB367 such as the adoption of evidence based practices and limited time a youth may spend in juvenile detention. The conferee urged a well-designed, correctional based out-of-home placements would benefit youth, families and communities. He referenced a Missouri model of juvenile justice. (Attachment 10) Missouri Model (Attachment 11)
The proponent conferees responded to questions.
Mike Fonkert, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, spoke against the bill. Mr. Fonkert stated the reinstatement of non-foster bed residential placements for youth is counterproductive to the goal of public safety and promoting youth to live more productively and responsibly in the community. He outlined other concerns of essentially going back to a system that existed prior to the reforms passed in 2016. (Attachment 12)
Megan Milner, Kansas Department of Corrections, testified against the bill. She recalled the 2014 study on Youth Residential Centers (YRCIIs) as the data and research that informed the juvenile justice reforms of 2016. She outlined specific concerns with the legislation including the fiscal impact on Kansas communities. (Attachment 13) Executive Summary of Cost Study of Youth Residential Centers 2015 (Attachment 14)
Lara Blake Bors, Juvenile Oversight Committee, testified in opposition of the bill. She stated any legislative efforts must be data driven and evidence based. She expressed concern for the potential negative balance of the Evidenced Based Practice Fund (EBPF), overseen by the oversight committee, if the bill passed.(Attachment 15)
The opponent conferees responded to questions.
Written Only testimony was submitted by Noah Bein (Attachment 16) and Joshua Weber (Attachment 17).
The hearing on HB2329 was closed.
The meeting adjourned at 3:15 pm.
