Committee backs bill to remove 'fair teams' from juvenile diversion, sponsors say goal is faster support for students

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report Senate Bill 162 favorably after testimony from superintendents, court-designated workers and school-focused stakeholders who said the statutory 'fair teams' requirement has slowed diversion and produced inconsistent outcomes.

Sponsor Senator Steve West said the bill removes the fair-teams component for status offenses and maintains involvement of court-designated workers (CDWs), allowing local CDWs and school districts to continue successful collaborations where they exist. "This bill eliminates the fair teams component," West told the committee, while emphasizing that CDWs and local partners would remain involved in case flow.

Matt Thompson, Montgomery County superintendent, told the committee that removing the mandatory fair-team step would shorten timelines and help match students more quickly to supports. Chad Butler, president of the Kentucky DPP (school-based diversion practitioners), said the organization reviewed the bill and supports it, while cautioning that effective practices from successful fair teams should be preserved.

Ashley Clark, executive officer for family and juvenile services (overseeing the CDW program), testified that the earlier law (Senate Bill 200) had been an unfunded mandate on CDWs, leaving high caseloads and only a one-time reallocation of Department of Juvenile Justice dollars for community grants. Clark warned funding constraints have constrained implementation on the ground.

Committee members debated optional versus mandatory language; several senators explained their votes and asked for clarity on whether effective local fair teams could continue. The motion to advance the bill carried with seven yes votes, zero no votes and one pass. The committee reported SB162 favorably with the committee substitute and recommended it "same should pass."