GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	1
HOUSE BILL 679
     

 
Short Title:	Cumberland Juvenile Assessment Center.	()	
Sponsors:	Representatives Morris;  Hurley, Lucas, McAllister, Nye, Warner, and Yongue.	
Referred to:	Appropriations.	
March 19, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to continue the operation of the cumberland county juvenile assessment center project and to appropriate funds for that purpose.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section 18.21(b) of S.L. 1997‑443, as amended by Section 16.6 of S.L. 1998‑212, reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The Administrative Office of the Courts, in collaboration with the Chief Court Counselor of District Court District 12, the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, and the appropriate local school administrative units, shall develop and implement a Juvenile Assessment Center Project in District Court District 12 to operate from the effective date of this  act. The purpose of the Project is to facilitate efficient prevention and intervention service delivery to juveniles who are (i) alleged to be delinquent or undisciplined and have been taken into custody or (ii) at risk of becoming delinquent or undisciplined because they have behavioral problems and have committed delinquent acts even though they have not been taken into custody. The Project shall assist these juveniles by providing a centralized point of intake and assessment for the juveniles, by addressing the educational, emotional, and physical needs of the juveniles, and by providing juveniles with an atmosphere for learning personal responsibility, self‑respect, and respect for others. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall consider the recommendations of the Juvenile Assessment Advisory Board in developing and implementing the Project."
SECTION 2.  Section 18.21(d) of S.L. 1997‑443, as amended by Section 16.6 of S.L. 1998‑212, reads as rewritten:
"(d)	There is established the Juvenile Assessment Advisory Board to make recommendations to the Administrative Office of the Courts regarding the development and operations of the Project. The Board shall consist of 13 members, including:
(1)	The director of the Department of Social Services of Cumberland County, or the director's designee.
(2)	A representative from the local mental health area authority of Cumberland County.
(3)	A member of the Cumberland County Board of Education.
(4)	The sheriff of Cumberland County, or the sheriff's designee.
(5)	The chief of police of the Fayetteville Police Department, or the designee of the chief of police.
(6)	A judge of District Court District 12.
(7)	A juvenile court counselor from District Court District 12.
(8)	The director of the Guardian Ad Litem program in Cumberland County, or the director's designee.
(9)	The director of the Health Department of Cumberland County, or the director's designee.
(10)	Two public members appointed by the Fayetteville City Council.
(11)	Two public members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of Cumberland County.
The members of the Board shall, within 30 days after the initial appointment is made, meet and elect one member as chair. The Board shall meet at least once a month at the call of the  chair. The Board of County Commissioners of Cumberland County shall provide necessary clerical and professional assistance to the Board.
"
SECTION 3.  The Juvenile Assessment Center Project shall continue to do all of the following:
(1)	Identify those juveniles who are alleged to be delinquent or undisciplined or who are at risk of becoming delinquent or undisciplined.
(2)	Evaluate the educational, emotional, and physical needs of the juveniles identified and determine whether the juveniles have problems related to substance abuse, depression, or other emotional conditions.
(3)	Develop a collaborative interagency information network that will speed appropriate law enforcement, juvenile court, and relevant intervention responses for referred youth and their families.
(4)	Develop in‑depth and comprehensive assessment plans for the juveniles identified that recommend appropriate treatment, counseling, and disposition of the juveniles. 
(5)	Provide services to juveniles identified and their families through collaboration with public and private resources, including local law enforcement, parents' organizations, the faith community, and county and community programs and organizations that provide substance abuse treatment and child and family counseling.
(6)	Maintain individual case files and keep statistical information used to document services delivered and evaluate the progress of the program.
SECTION 4.  The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention shall evaluate the Project and report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly by October 1, 2002, on the operations of the Project.  The report shall include recommendations on whether the Project should be continued and, if so, the extent to which it should be continued, why it should be continued, and the costs associated with continuing the Project.  If the Department recommends the Project should not be continued, it shall provide the reasons for that recommendation. 
SECTION 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for the 2000‑2001 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for the 2001‑2002 fiscal year to continue the operations of the Juvenile Assessment Center Project, as authorized by this act.
SECTION 6.  Sections 1, 2, and 6 of this act become effective June 29, 1999.  The remainder of this act becomes effective July 1, 2001.