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Press Release
Governor Scott Signs Legislation for Juvenile Detention Costs
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott signed into law Senate Bill 1322 which revises the cost-sharing relationship between the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and Florida’s counties for juvenile detention costs. This legislations ends more than a decade of legal actions disputing the cost-sharing split.
Governor Rick Scott said, “I would like to thank Secretary Christina Daly, Senator Jack Latvala, Representative Chris Latvala, and Florida Association of Counties Legislative Director Lisa Hurley for their hard work on this important legislation. Florida’s juvenile arrest rate is at a more than 30-year low and our juvenile justice system leads the nation in prevention measures for our youth. I am proud to sign this legislation today.”
Secretary Christina Daly said, “I want to thank Governor Scott for signing this significant legislation into law. I also appreciate the leadership of Senator Jack Latvala and Representative Chris Latvala for their work on the legislation as well as the collaborative efforts of Florida’s counties in seeking a solution to this long-standing dispute. I am thrilled that today represents a new beginning for the partnership between the Department and the counties in our focus on how we can best serve Florida’s children and their families.”
FAC President and Vice Mayor of Broward County Barbara Sharief said, “Hundreds of county commissioners, the entire state legislature and the Governor came together to ensure this bill became law. This is an example of the powerful work that can be done when state and county officials work together to serve the greater good of our communities and this state.”
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2017-18, juvenile detention costs shall be split 50/50 based on actual expenditures and the percentage of detention days used for that county’s juveniles in the most recently completed 12-month period. The costs incurred by fiscally-constrained counties will be the responsibility of the state. The Act also requires all counties that have pending legal action to file a notice of dismissal. In addition, all counties are to execute a release and waiver of any existing or future claims arising from detention cost share prior to the current fiscal year.
