Transcript Highlights:

• various training statewide training education programs for juvenile probation officers and juvenile
• I've been a juvenile probation officer for 38 years, and the past 22 years I've served as a juvenile
• We'll have a juvenile who's suicidal acting out. We had a juvenile who was eating his shirt.
• in juvenile justice across Texas.
• How about solitary confinement? What can y'all testify to you about solitary confinement?

Bills: HB31, HB3360

Keywords: juvenile justice, community supervision, felony offenses, treatment of children, juvenile facilities, chemical dispensing device, solitary confinement, rehabilitation, criminal proceedings, delinquency, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Confinement imposed by a juvenile court up to 30 days is served in a county juvenile detention facility
• Juvenile court must order a minimum of 10 days of confinement for a juvenile who is found to have committed
• This applies to juvenile offenses with a standard range confinement over 30 days, except for certain
• The bill allows individuals to appeal certain juvenile dispositions with the term of confinement over
• I shared my experiences in juvenile court as a juvenile respondent.

Bills: HB2389, HB2456

Keywords: juvenile justice, youth sentencing, juvenile rehabilitation, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, community supervision, community transition services, suspended disposition, less restrictive alternative, sentencing grid, juvenile confinement, juvenile prison, rehabilitation, recidivism, mental health treatment, substance use disorder, chemical dependency, trauma-informed care, racial disparities, equity

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2456, which would create a juvenile firearm early intervention alternative for youth charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. Staff explained that the bill would allow dismissal after successful completion of a prosecutor-approved, 12-month intensive supervision program with searches, therapy, mentorship, and regular court reviews, funded by a $100 increase to concealed pistol license fees. The prime sponsor said the bill is meant to fill the gap between arrest and final case resolution and to provide a cautious, evidence-based intervention; one member questioned whether the CPL fee increase functioned more like a tax than a fee. The chair then held further testimony on that bill. The committee then took extensive testimony on House Bill 2389, which would expand suspended disposition alternatives and other community-based options for juveniles, broaden eligibility for some offenses including robbery and assault, require mid-sentence review hearings, reduce some robbery standard ranges, and add juvenile rehabilitation capacity and emergency transfer provisions. Supporters, including youth currently or formerly in juvenile facilities, defense advocates, restorative justice groups, and some judges, argued the bill would reduce overcrowding, address racial disparities, improve rehabilitation, and give judges more individualized options. Several witnesses described personal experiences with trauma, incarceration, and the benefits of treatment and community support, while researchers testified that juvenile incarceration has limited rehabilitative value and that periodic review can improve outcomes. Opponents and those testifying with concerns, including prosecutors, sheriffs, county officials, juvenile court administrators, DCYF, and victims or victim advocates, argued the bill would shift burdens to counties without adequate funding, add appeals and hearings, and reduce accountability for serious offenses. They warned that the first part of the bill would effectively lower many standard ranges to local sanctions for offenses such as robbery, assault, arson, and drive-by shooting, and said community-based resources and staffing are not in place statewide. DCYF and Green Hill staff said overcrowding has improved but emergency transfer authority is still needed, while some witnesses urged changes to preserve revocation tools, clarify transfer standards, and add resources before expanding community placement.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2389 is the bill that makes changes to juvenile offender sentencing and juvenile rehabilitation
• It allows certain juveniles to serve fewer than 30 days of remaining confinement time in a county detention
• facility or community transition program to be reduced to 15 days instead of 30 or more when the juvenile
• The policy before you modernizes how Washington deals with juveniles who are entering our juvenile justice
• The policy, I believe, is moving us... ...preserving confinement when public safety truly requires it

Bills: HB2230, HB2364, HB2389, HB2429

Keywords: community oversight, residential services, regulation, service providers, monitoring, poverty, task force, legislative, executive, social programs, juvenile justice, youth sentencing, juvenile rehabilitation, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, community supervision, community transition services, suspended disposition, less restrictive alternative, sentencing grid

Summary: The Early Learning and Human Services Committee met in executive session on four bills. House Bill 2230, which streamlines DHS monitoring and oversight of community residential service providers and limits duplicate routine reviews, was amended with Harrow 796 to clarify that Adult Protective Services investigations are not subject to the routine review limits. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the substitute bill out of committee unanimously, 11-0, with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2364, which renames and expands the Legislative Executive Workforce Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force into the Legislative Executive Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force, was reported out with a do pass recommendation on an 8-3 vote. Supporters said the bill updates language, broadens membership, and aligns duties; some members voted no or without recommendation due to concerns about the title change and other provisions. House Bill 2389, dealing with juvenile offender sentencing and juvenile rehabilitation capacity procedures, had no amendments to the proposed substitute and was passed out of committee 7-4. Members described it as a complex, balanced effort to modernize juvenile justice policy, address facility capacity, and preserve rehabilitation and public safety. House Bill 2429, supporting implementation of the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan for Children and Youth Behavioral Health, was amended with Wickham 846 to adjust leadership council membership and add two representatives of federally recognized Indian tribes, nominated by the Governor’s Indian Health Advisory Council, while preserving tribal consultation requirements. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the substitute bill unanimously, 11-0, with a do pass recommendation. At the end of the meeting, staff noted amendment requests for upcoming executive session bills were due by 10 a.m. Monday and to the EBB by 4 p.m. Monday, and the committee adjourned after announcing three bills would be up for possible executive session on Tuesday.

Bills: SB 476, SB 664, SB 745, SB 826, SB 989, SB 1080, SB 1171, SB 1320, SB 1437, SB 1727, SB 1809, SB 2289, SB 2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, criminal history, court officials, background check, bail determination, Texas judiciary, occupational license, criminal conviction, provisional license, licensing authority, educational programs

Transcript Highlights:

• It deals with the award of diligent participation credits to defendants confined in a state jail facility
• It's hard to put a real exact number on what it costs for the juveniles, the parole violators, and the
• willing and eager partner with the federal and local governments to make sure that those people are confined
• This bill prohibits housing or confining an inmate in a privately owned facility.
• House Bill 1410 seeks to prohibit TDCJ from contracting with private vendors for inmate confinement.

Bills: HB153, HB1410, HB1461, HB1760, HB1762, HB3261, HB3773, HB153

Keywords: education, funding, student resources, technology access, equal opportunity, veterans treatment court, mental health, criminal justice, rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, veterans, treatment court, military service, legislation, private prisons, inmate confinement, criminal justice reform, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, government contracts, inmate housing

Bills: HB43, SB81, SB178, SB138, SB89, SB183, HB27, HB188, HB199, HB190, SB117, HB43, HB27

Keywords: criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, speedy trial, visiting judge, court administration, violent crimes, Alabama Supreme Court, employment, criminal record, certificate of employability, occupational licensing, negligent hiring, rehabilitation, limited relief, tribal police, law enforcement

Bills: SB361

Keywords: dogs, dog tethering, dog confinement, animal welfare, animal cruelty, animal neglect, outdoor shelter, kennel standards, leash laws, trolley system, animal control officer, law enforcement enforcement, service animals, working dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs, USDA breeder, commercial breeder, pet care, veterinary care

Bills: HB149

Keywords: dog tethering, animal welfare, animal cruelty, outdoor shelter, dog confinement, leash laws, chaining dogs, trolley system, kennel standards, dog shelter requirements, Class B misdemeanor, veterinary practice, boarding kennel, animal shelter, hunting dogs, livestock herding, farm dogs, agricultural exemption, pet care, canine protection

Transcript Highlights:

• judge, if the judge is hearing a case, can create the jurisdiction to remove the child so DHR and juvenile
• That's the split part, the minimum period of confinement. part, the minimum period of confinement provided

Bills: HB2, HB27, HB54, HB49, HB58, HB40, HB38, HB43, HB2, HB27, HB40, HB38, HB43, HB54, HB49, HB58

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, sex offender, employment, first responder, childcare, public safety, juvenile protection, emergency orders, child custody, court authority, abuse and neglect, firearm possession, law enforcement, criminal penalty, concealed carry, Alabama law

Bills: HB355, HB437, HB1631

Keywords: juvenile justice, custody, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, detention, legal framework, sex classification, safety, detention facilities, biological sex, juvenile detention, family court, detention orders, Texas juvenile justice, child welfare, court proceedings, detention studies, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FTOW, the court may waive the standard sentence and instead impose a sentence of up to 90 days' confinement
• I was the juvenile chief in King County, as well as the chief criminal judge for the last couple of years
• Speaking as a young person who has been negatively impacted by the juvenile justice system, when I was
• House Bill 2217 recognizes that youth who commit offenses under the age of 18 belong in the juvenile
• , including strike offenses as a juvenile, I can do a first-time offender waiver when I have a nonviolent

Bills: HB2217, HB2558, HB2641, HB2648, HB1239, HB1591, HB2209, HB2310, HB2526

Keywords: rehabilitation, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, first-time offenders, pathways to rehabilitation, mental health, sentencing alternative, criminal justice, diversion programs, HB 2641, ICE out act, law enforcement hiring, immigration and customs enforcement, ICE officers, former federal employees, sworn officer, police staffing, general authority law enforcement agency, limited authority law enforcement agency, immigration enforcement

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 29, 2026, and began with a decision to postpone all executive session action until the following Monday because of the large number of public hearing sign-ups. The committee first heard staff and sponsor remarks on House Bill 2558, which would narrow and restructure the mental health sentencing alternative. Staff explained that the bill would replace the current “serious mental illness” standard with a psychotic disorder standard, add eligibility restrictions for some domestic violence and prior violent offense cases, require more detailed DOC reports, lengthen community custody in some cases, require regular progress hearings, and shift HCA funding from reimbursement to contracting with providers. Sponsor Rep. Amy Wallen described the bill as a response to misuse of the current program in domestic violence and other violent cases, saying it should be refocused on people with profound mental illness tied to the offense. Public testimony on HB 2558 was held over for later in the meeting. The committee then took extensive testimony on House Bill 2217, which would replace the current first-time offender waiver with two new pathways: a pretrial deferral and a suspended sentence option. Staff said the bill would allow eligible first-time felony offenders to avoid a conviction if they complete conditions, with strong presumptions in favor of relief and eligibility expanded to some offenses such as second-degree assault and robbery, while excluding violent, sex, DUI, and certain drug offenses. The sponsor, Rep. Darya Farivar, said the bill is intended to improve rehabilitation and make the program more meaningful by allowing dismissal for successful completion, and she noted additional exclusions and technical changes were still being worked on. Supporters included public defense, immigration advocates, economists, judges, the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, and a youth advocate, who emphasized reduced recidivism, better employment outcomes, and immigration consequences of a conviction. Opponents from sheriffs, prosecutors, and victim advocacy groups raised concerns about including serious offenses, the lack of prosecutor consent, victim safety, and whether the bill would create uneven treatment across jurisdictions. Several witnesses and members also discussed whether the bill should be narrowed further, and the sponsor said she would remove the strong presumption language after a judge testified that it was a concern. The committee next heard House Bill 2641, the “ICE Out Act of 2026,” which would bar Washington law enforcement agencies from employing people hired as sworn ICE officers on or after January 20, 2025, with the restriction applying prospectively to hiring after October 1, 2026. Sponsor Rep. Tarra Simmons said the bill responds to community fear about ICE tactics and is meant to prevent hiring people she views as having participated in rights violations. Members questioned whether the bill was discriminatory and whether background-check reforms would be a better approach. The committee then moved to House Bill 2648, which would require state and local officers who encounter suspected ICE enforcement activity to activate body and dash cameras, report the encounter, attempt to identify the federal officer, and avoid escalation; it also would require state representation and indemnification for officers acting in compliance. Sponsor Rep. Mary Fosse said the bill is meant to protect both communities and local officers and is still being narrowed with stakeholders. Testimony was mixed: the State Patrol and Teamsters 117 said many of the requirements align with existing practices and could help document incidents, while the sheriffs’ and police chiefs’ association warned that the bill could discourage federal officers from seeking local assistance and asked for softer language and stronger indemnification. The committee ran out of time and ended further testimony without taking final action on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Juvenile is civil, adult is criminal.
• The juvenile cases in that system.
• This precludes confinement at any stage, I'm sorry. Does this preclude confinement at any stage?
• My bill, HB 3882, will make these grants accessible to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and juvenile
• Juvenile probation departments across Texas.

Bills: HB1821, HB1822, HB1943, HB3882, HB4263, HB4476, HB4628, HB4631, HB4885, HB4923, HB5461, HB5483, HB5525

Keywords: juvenile records, sealing, privacy, criminal justice, youth rehabilitation, legal procedures, juvenile court, record sealing, nondisclosure, age jurisdiction, criminal justice reform, juvenile board, compensation, Winkler County, juvenile justice, county funding, grants, career education, technical programs, workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• He's working, I think, with Ali on some juvenile issues.
• This bill would be referred to as a school notification in regards to juvenile delinquents.
• , in which there began to be some situations that arose where school officials were unaware of a juvenile
• would state that what we're trying to do is balance the confidentiality that's already a part of the juvenile
• that are identified within the amendment, there is later in the bill where there still could be the juvenile

Bills: HB2, HB43, HB49, HB94, HB137, HB156, HB200, HB250, HB3, HB42

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, out-of-state warrants, law enforcement, extradition, Alabama Code, arrest authority, interstate cooperation, tax exemption, seafood, retail sales

Transcript Highlights:

• Data from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department indicates that juvenile assaults that are cause and effect
• or prison if the juvenile does not avail themselves to the rehabilitative resources provided by the juvenile
• We've got to remember that all of the officers that supervised these juveniles.
• justice department, a juvenile probationary department, or a juvenile. registered with the department
• Carter Executive Director, Texas Juvenile Justice, here as a resource.

Bills: SB 476, SB 664, SB 745, SB 826, SB 989, SB 1080, SB 1171, SB 1320, SB 1437, SB 1727, SB 1809, SB 2289, SB 2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice convened to address pressing issues surrounding oil field crime and safety on Texas highways. The meeting was initiated by Chair Flores, who emphasized the need for improved tools to combat repeat offenders having committed intoxicated driving, alongside tackling oil field theft that has escalated due to organized criminal activities. The committee heard public testimonies and engaged with various stakeholders, including law enforcement and industry representatives, who highlighted the complexities and dangers associated with these crimes. Notably, a significant focus was placed on Senate Bill 1320, which aims to establish a dedicated unit within the Department of Public Safety to investigate and address thefts specific to the oil and gas industry. This initiative seeks to strengthen coordination among various law enforcement agencies and improve training for local officers to combat these sophisticated theft operations more effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• by juveniles at department facilities.
• Data from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department indicates that juvenile assaults causing injury to staff
• juvenile justice system.
• justice department, a juvenile probation department, or a juvenile facility registered with the department
• “Casey Singer, Deputy General Counsel, Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Bills: SB476, SB664, SB745, SB826, SB989, SB1080, SB1171, SB1320, SB1437, SB1727, SB1809, SB2289, SB2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several criminal justice bills, with most of the discussion focused on oilfield theft, DWI enforcement, juvenile justice, reentry licensing, jail transparency, and court/judicial standards. SB 1320 would create a DPS oilfield theft unit headquartered in the Permian Basin; supporters from industry, law enforcement, and a district attorney described increasingly sophisticated, organized theft tied to cartels and multi-jurisdictional criminal networks, while DPS said it currently has only two officers working the issue. The committee voted SB 1320 out unanimously and placed it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 826, which would enhance DWI committed in a school zone to a state jail felony, also passed unanimously after brief explanation and no testimony. SB 1171, adding juvenile justice OIG peace officers to Schedule C salary, was reported favorably on a committee substitute, and SB 1080, which would allow incarcerated people to obtain occupational licenses effective upon release, also passed on a committee substitute after testimony from formerly incarcerated advocates and reentry supporters. The committee also considered several bills aimed at tougher DWI penalties. SB 476 would increase intoxication manslaughter penalties when the offender violates an ignition interlock restriction; the bill was supported by the author, victims’ family members, Galveston officials, and law enforcement, but opposed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued treatment and prevention would be more effective. After discussion about possible amendments, the bill was left pending. SB 745 would create a new first-degree felony option for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, and it was reported favorably after testimony from a prosecutor supporting the need for a stronger sentencing option. SB 2320 would broadly increase penalties for DWI offenses, including first-time DWI, DWI with an open container, high-BAC DWI, and repeat offenses; it was supported by a grieving family member and a sheriff, and the committee voted it out favorably. On juvenile justice, SB 1727 would expand tools to address assaults on staff at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities by lowering the age for transfer to adult prison in some cases, allowing earlier transfer of determinate-sentence youth, and restricting release when a criminal case is pending. Juvenile probation officials supported the bill as a public safety and victim-rights measure, while the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed it, arguing it would send children to inappropriate adult facilities and conflict with juvenile justice principles; the bill was left pending. SB 1437 would expand the juvenile justice do-not-hire registry to include non-certified positions, and it passed unanimously after supporters said it would help close loopholes that allow predators to move between child-serving jobs. SB 2289, requiring counties that house inmates out of state to report that information and any deaths to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, also passed unanimously. Finally, SB 989, requiring criminal background checks for court personnel who determine bail, and SB 664, establishing statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and associate judges, were explained and discussed as transparency and public-safety measures, with SB 989 reported favorably and SB 664 under committee consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice will come to order at 8:03 a.m. Clerk, please call the roll.
• misdemeanors. ...commit an offense or pose a threat to juveniles in our juvenile justice system.
• probation departments, or registered juvenile... ...facilities.
• probation officer, juvenile supervision officer, or community activities officer.
• Good morning, Chairman Cook and members of the Juvenile Justice Subcommittee.

Bills: HB2947, HB3276, HB3513

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our county court law number one doesn't do any juvenile work.
• We have a very busy juvenile board. We meet once a month.
• appointee to the Texas Juvenile Justice Advisory Board.
• Juvenile Justice will come back to order at 9:13 a.m.
• Juvenile Justice will come back to order at 9:13 a.m.

Bills: HB1967, HB3442, HB5525, HB5561, HB5653, HB5667, SB1171

Keywords: juvenile justice, correctional facilities, reform, rehabilitation, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, alcohol awareness, court-ordered programs, substance misuse education, deferred disposition, youth, parole reform, inmates under 18, mental health, educational achievement, reintegration, foster youth, behavior intervention, community services, diversion policies, HB 5653

Transcript Highlights:

• imposed. ...in lieu of earned early release for the duration of the term of total confinement imposed
• First, it excludes the portion of a person's total confinement sentence that is for any sexual motivation
• This amendment prohibits earned release time credits from being used in a calculation of confinement
• be transferred to community custody will then be... ...supervised for the duration of the total confinement
• is substantially limited, or the DOC cannot meet the person's basic medical care needs in total confinement

Bills: HB1239, HB2310, HB2490, HB2508, HB2510, HB2532, HB2539

Keywords: reentry, reentry readiness, recidivism, earned release time, good time credits, graduated reentry, community custody, partial confinement, home detention, work release, electronic monitoring, substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, corrections, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, sentencing, release date recalculation, transition services

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met in executive session on February 2, 2026, to consider several bills. Staff summarized House Bills 1239, 2310, 2490, 2508, 2510, 2532, and 2539, along with proposed substitutes and amendments. HB 1239 would expand earned release time and add a DOC pilot program for incarcerated survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence; HB 2310 would elevate certain fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation cases to a felony for repeat offenders; HB 2490 would revise extraordinary medical placement criteria; HB 2508 would expand Office of Independent Investigations reporting and access rules; HB 2510 would require DOC supervision for people convicted of stalking; HB 2532 would make nitrous oxide distribution a gross misdemeanor with exemptions; and HB 2539 would raise the inmate indigency threshold and, in the substitute, retain only that increase. The committee took action on amendments to HB 1239, rejecting amendments that would have extended supervision for earned early release, reduced the maximum earned release percentage for serious violent and Class A sex offenses, and barred earned release time from being used if parole is later established. It adopted amendments excluding sexual motivation enhancements from earned release calculations and adding a second pilot program at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton. The committee then reported out Substitute HB 1239 on a 5-4 vote, with members split over public safety, victim impact, and sentence length concerns. HB 2310, HB 2508, HB 2510, HB 2532, and HB 2539 were all reported out with do pass recommendations, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. HB 2508 was amended to narrow and clarify reporting requirements for non-deadly force incidents and in-custody deaths. HB 2532 was amended to add a veterinary care exemption for nitrous oxide. HB 2539’s substitute, which removed the telephone-services provision and kept only the indigency-threshold increase from $25 to $100, passed 6-3. The committee deferred action on HB 2490 and announced it would return to the remaining bills the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of calling the person over the Detention Facility or warden in reference to rehabilitating juvenile

Bills: HB191, HB196, HB134, HB14, HB14

Keywords: juvenile detention, county management, legal procedures, juvenile justice, county commission, supervision, administration, vehicle registration, disability access, fines, law enforcement, public accommodation, interim police chief, public safety, municipalities, state authority, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the legislative work group on juvenile the legislative work group on juvenile justice<00:05:23.520
• Um and I've juvenile justice action.
• <c> the</c><00:15:28.320><c> ultimate</c> Juvenile Justice makes the ultimate Juvenile Justice makes
• used uh in juvenile and is primarily used uh in juvenile detention<00:47:58.400><c> centers.
• . juveniles. juveniles.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:03 Roll Call: 00:00:09 Agency Updates: 00:01:44 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board Update: 00:03:36 Department of Juvenile Justice Update: 00:23:10, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council approved the minutes from its November 8, 2024 meeting and welcomed new member Representative Nick Wilson. The council also heard an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on a school attendance awareness campaign aimed at reducing truancy referrals to court, and a member requested a future, more detailed presentation on truancy trends. The council then received an update from the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board from Dr. David Frink and Elsie Berger. They described the board’s membership, meeting schedule, public access, annual report and three-year plan, and its role in helping Kentucky remain compliant with federal juvenile justice requirements so the state can receive Title II funding. They said the board reviews grant applications for community-based services, substance use, and early intervention programs, with about $584,000 in federal funds this year and a little over $600,000 expected next year. Members asked about participation, board vacancies, and how to engage with the board, and the presenters emphasized the importance of statewide representation and community input. The Department of Juvenile Justice then provided a broader update through Commissioner Randy White and Deputy Secretary Mona Wamik. White said DJJ is under an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation focused on conditions in detention facilities, including use of force, isolation, abuse, mental health care, and special education, and said the department has cooperated with repeated information requests and site visits. He also reviewed recent legislative and administrative changes, including 2023 Senate Bill 162, regional detention planning, facility segregation requirements, staffing and salary investments, improved staffing levels, reduced mental health vacancies, and training efforts related to security threat groups. He said DJJ has made progress but continues to work on staffing, safety, and facility improvements.