Senate approves funds for youth diversion and Oakley youth center in two appropriations bills

The State Senate on the floor approved two supplemental appropriations measures that together direct new money to juvenile services, including youth diversion programs and upgrades to the Oakley Youth Development Center.

Senator Hobson moved suspension of the rules for immediate consideration of House Bill 1, which the clerk read as an appropriation to the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a youth diversion program. Hobson explained that $1,500,000 from previously allocated adolescent offender program funds will be amended into the youth diversion program and outlined past and ongoing state investments in youth mental-health and child-protection services.

Hobson said the two bills together will put $9,000,000 into youth diversion programs — combining the $1.5 million in HB1 with $7.5 million in the spending portion of HB2. "This will give us $9,000,000 going to youth diversion programs that DHS will be able to use to help keep our children out of the facilities and out of care," Hobson said.

On the spending side, House Bill 2 included three substantive sections: $12,000,000 for renovation, upgrades and expansion of the Oakley Youth Development Center (identified in debate as the state’s only youth detention facility); $7,500,000 for diversion programs; and $10,000,000 in CapEx funds for expenses tied to juvenile detention centers (acquisition, renovation, leasing, planning and design). Hobson said the CapEx funds aim to make facilities closer to children’s homes so families can visit more easily.

During floor remarks Hobson also discussed multi-year legal and monitoring costs tied to a long-running federal court matter referred to in the record variously as “Olivia Y” and "Olivia Wilde," saying the state has spent roughly $2.4 million–$2.7 million in several years on defense, plaintiff expenses and monitoring fees and arguing those are funds that could otherwise go into services for children. "We've been spending a lot of money in this state going to Olivia Y," Hobson said. Senator Isom asked for clarification after searching for the case and Hobson described the matter as a federal court action going back many years; the transcript does not resolve the name or procedural status definitively.

Both bills were adopted by use of the morning roll call. The record shows some senators asked to be recorded as "present" during the roll call; the presiding officer announced that the bills passed and Senator Hobson asked for immediate release of items 1 and 2 on the supplemental calendar. The bills will be enrolled and sent on under the governor’s call as appropriate.

Senators also scheduled Appropriations Committee work (an Appropriations Committee meeting was called for Room 216 at 4:30 p.m.) and were reminded that redistricting hearings will be set to begin in mid-August and run through Sept. 30. The Senate recessed and adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

What’s next: The bills were released for enrollment following passage; any further implementation (including DHS program rules, contract awards or design work for facilities) will be handled by executive branch agencies and through standard appropriations and procurement processes.