1. (1) FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds that the number of children suspended or expelled from school is growing at an alarming rate; that juvenile crime is growing at an alarming rate; and that there is a direct relationship between the increasing number of children suspended or expelled from school and the rising crime rate. The Legislature further finds that the problem of school safety cannot be solved solely by suspending or expelling students, nor can the public be protected from juvenile crime merely by incarcerating juvenile delinquents, but that school and law enforcement authorities must work in cooperation with the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Children and Family Services, and other community representatives in a partnership that coordinates goals, strategies, resources, and evaluation of outcomes. The Legislature finds that where such partnerships exist the participants believe that such efforts are beneficial to the community and should be encouraged elsewhere.
2. (2) INTENT.--The Legislature recognizes that, despite the large investment of resources committed to address the needs of the criminal justice system of this state, the crime rate continues to increase, overcrowding the state's juvenile detention centers, jails, and prisons and placing the state in jeopardy of being unable to effectively manage these facilities. The economic cost of crime to the state continues to drain existing resources, and the cost to victims, both economic and psychological, is traumatic and tragic. The Legislature further recognizes that many adults in the criminal justice system were once delinquents in the juvenile justice system. The Legislature also recognizes that the most effective juvenile delinquency programs are programs that not only prevent children from entering the juvenile justice system, but also meet local community needs and have substantial community involvement and support. Therefore, it is the belief of the Legislature that one of the best investments of the scarce resources available to combat crime is in the prevention of delinquency, including prevention of criminal activity by youth gangs, with special emphasis on structured and well-supervised alternative education programs for children suspended or expelled from school. It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize and encourage each of the counties of the state to establish a comprehensive juvenile justice plan based upon the input of representatives of every affected public or private entity, organization, or group. It is the further intent of the Legislature that representatives of school systems, the judiciary, law enforcement, and the Department of Juvenile Justice acquire a thorough understanding of the role and responsibility that each has in addressing juvenile crime in the community, that the county juvenile justice plan reflect an understanding of the legal and fiscal limits within which the plan must be implemented, and that willingness of the parties to cooperate and collaborate in implementing the plan be explicitly stated. It is the further intent of the Legislature that county juvenile justice plans form the basis of and be integrated into district juvenile justice plans and that the prevention and treatment resources at the county, district, and regional levels be utilized to the maximum extent possible to implement and further the goals of their respective plans.

3. (3) DISTRICT JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARDS.--

   1. (a) There is created a district juvenile justice board within each district to be composed of representatives of county juvenile justice councils within the district.

   2. (b) 1.a. The authority to appoint members to district juvenile justice boards, and the size of each board, is as follows:

      1. (I) District 1 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Escambia County, 6 members; Okaloosa County, 3 members; Santa Rosa County, 2 members; and Walton County, 1 member.
      2. (II) District 2 is to have a board composed of 18 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils in the respective counties, as follows: Holmes County, 1 member; Washington County, 1 member; Bay County, 2 members; Jackson County, 1 member; Calhoun County, 1 member; Gulf County, 1 member; Gadsden County, 1 member; Franklin County, 1 member; Liberty County, 1 member; Leon County, 4 members; Wakulla County, 1 member; Jefferson County, 1 member; Madison County, 1 member; and Taylor County, 1 member.
      3. (III) District 3 is to have a board composed of 15 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Hamilton County, 1 member; Suwannee County, 1 member; Lafayette County, 1 member; Dixie County, 1 member; Columbia County, 1 member; Gilchrist County, 1 member; Levy County, 1 member; Union County, 1 member; Bradford County, 1 member; Putnam County, 1 member; and Alachua County, 5 members.
      4. (IV) District 4 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Baker County, 1 member; Nassau County, 1 member; Duval County, 7 members; Clay County, 2 members; and St. Johns County, 1 member.
      5. (V) District 5 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Pasco County, 3 members; and Pinellas County, 9 members.
      6. (VI) District 6 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Hillsborough County, 9 members; and Manatee County, 3 members.
      7. (VII) District 7 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Seminole County, 3 members; Orange County, 5 members; Osceola County, 1 member; and Brevard County, 3 members.
      8. (VIII) District 8 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Sarasota County, 3 members; DeSoto County, 1 member; Charlotte County, 1 member; Lee County, 3 members; Glades County, 1 member; Hendry County, 1 member; and Collier County, 2 members.
      9. (IX) District 9 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice council of Palm Beach County.
      10. (X) District 10 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice council of Broward County.
      11. (XI) District 11 is to have a juvenile justice board composed of 12 members to be appointed by the juvenile justice council in the respective counties, as follows: Dade County, 6 members and Monroe County, 6 members.
      12. (XII) District 12 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice council of the respective counties, as follows: Flagler County, 3 members; and Volusia County, 9 members.
      13. (XIII) District 13 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Marion County, 4 members; Citrus County, 2 members; Hernando County, 2 members; Sumter County, 1 member; and Lake County, 3 members.
      14. (XIV) District 14 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Polk County, 9 members; Highlands County, 2 members; and Hardee County, 1 member.

      15. (XV) District 15 is to have a board composed of 12 members, to be appointed by the juvenile justice councils of the respective counties, as follows: Indian River County, 3 members; Okeechobee County, 1 member; St. Lucie County, 5 members; and Martin County, 3 members. The district health and human services board in each district may appoint one of its members to serve as an ex officio member of the district juvenile justice board established under this sub-subparagraph.

          b. In any judicial circuit where a juvenile delinquency and gang prevention council exists on the date this act becomes law, and where the circuit and district or subdistrict boundaries are identical, such council shall become the district juvenile justice board, and shall thereafter have the purposes and exercise the authority and responsibilities provided in this section.

          2. At any time after the adoption of initial bylaws pursuant to paragraph (c), a district juvenile justice board may adopt a bylaw to enlarge the size, by no more than three members, and composition of the board to adequately reflect the diversity of the population and community organizations in the district.

          3. All appointments shall be for 2-year terms. Appointments to fill vacancies created by death, resignation, or removal of a member are for the unexpired term. A member may not serve more than three full consecutive terms.

          4. A member who is absent for three meetings within any 12-month period, without having been excused by the chair, is deemed to have resigned, and the board shall immediately declare the seat vacant. Members may be suspended or removed for cause by a majority vote of the board members or by the Governor.

          5. Members are subject to the provisions of chapter 112, part III, Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees.

   3. (c) Upon the completion of the appointment process, the district juvenile justice manager shall schedule an organizational meeting of the board. At the organizational meeting, or as soon thereafter as is practical, the board shall adopt bylaws and rules of procedure for the operation of the board, provided such bylaws and rules are not inconsistent with federal and state laws or county ordinances. The bylaws shall provide for such officers and committees as the board deems necessary, and shall specify the qualifications, method of selection, and term for each office created.

   4. (d) A district juvenile justice board has the purpose, power, and duty to:

      1. Advise the district juvenile justice manager and the district administrator on the need for and the availability of juvenile justice programs and services in the district, including the educational services in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.

      2. Develop a district juvenile justice plan that is based upon the juvenile justice plans developed by each county within the district, and that addresses the needs of each county within the district.

      3. Develop a district interagency cooperation and information-sharing agreement that supplements county agreements and expands the scope to include appropriate circuit and district officials and groups.

      4. Coordinate the efforts of the district juvenile justice board with the activities of the Governor's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Committee and other public and private entities.

      5. Advise and assist the district juvenile justice manager in the provision of optional, innovative delinquency services in the district to meet the unique needs of delinquent children and their families.

      6. Develop, in consultation with the district juvenile justice manager, funding sources external to the Department of Juvenile Justice for the provision and maintenance of additional delinquency programs and services. The board may, either independently or in partnership with one or more county juvenile justice councils or other public or private entities, apply for and receive funds, under contract or other funding arrangement, from federal, state, county, city, and other public agencies, and from public and private foundations, agencies, and charities for the purpose of funding optional innovative prevention, diversion, or treatment services in the district for delinquent children and children at risk of delinquency, and their families. To aid in this process, the department shall provide fiscal agency services for the councils.

      7. Educate the community about and assist in the community juvenile justice partnership grant program administered by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

      8. Advise the district health and human services board, the district juvenile justice manager, and the Secretary of Juvenile Justice regarding the development of the legislative budget request for juvenile justice programs and services in the district and the commitment region, and, in coordination with the district health and human services board, make recommendations, develop programs, and provide funding for prevention and early intervention programs and services designed to serve children in need of services, families in need of services, and children who are at risk of delinquency within the district or region.

      9. Assist the district juvenile justice manager in collecting information and statistical data useful in assessing the need for prevention programs and services within the juvenile justice continuum program in the district.

      10. Make recommendations with respect to, and monitor the effectiveness of, the judicial administrative plan for each circuit pursuant to Rule 2.050, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.

      11. Provide periodic reports to the health and human services board in the appropriate district of the Department of Children and Family Services. These reports must contain, at a minimum, data about the clients served by the juvenile justice programs and services in the district, as well as data concerning the unmet needs of juveniles within the district.

      12. Provide a written annual report on the activities of the board to the district administrator, the Secretary of Juvenile Justice, and the Juvenile Justice Accountability Board. The report should include an assessment of the effectiveness of juvenile justice continuum programs and services within the district, recommendations for elimination, modification, or expansion of existing programs, and suggestions for new programs or services in the juvenile justice continuum that would meet identified needs of children and families in the district.

   5. (e) Contingent upon legislative appropriation, the department shall provide funding for a minimum of one full-time position for a staff person to work with the district juvenile justice boards.

   6. (f) The secretary shall hold quarterly meetings with chairpersons of the district juvenile justice board in order to:

      1. Advise juvenile justice board chairs of statewide juvenile justice issues and activities.

      2. Provide feedback on district budget priorities.

      3. Obtain input into the strategic planning process.

      4. Discuss program development, program implementation, and quality assurance.

4. (4) DISTRICT JUVENILE JUSTICE PLAN; PROGRAMS.--

   1. (a) A district juvenile justice plan is authorized in each district or any subdivision of the district authorized by the district juvenile justice board for the purpose of reducing delinquent acts, juvenile arrests, and gang activity. Juvenile justice programs under such plan may be administered by the Department of Juvenile Justice; the district school board; a local law enforcement agency; or any other public or private entity, in cooperation with appropriate state or local governmental entities and public and private agencies. A juvenile justice program under this section may be planned, implemented, and conducted in any district pursuant to a proposal developed and approved as specified in s. 985.415.
   2. (b) District juvenile justice plans shall be developed by district juvenile justice boards in close cooperation with the schools, the courts, the state attorney, law enforcement, state agencies, and community organizations and groups. It is the intent of the Legislature that representatives of all elements of the community acquire a thorough understanding of the role and responsibility that each has in addressing juvenile crime in the community, and that the district juvenile justice plan reflect an understanding of the legal and fiscal limits within which the plan must be implemented.

   3. (c) The district juvenile justice board may use public hearings and other appropriate processes to solicit input regarding the development and updating of the district juvenile justice plan. Input may be provided by parties which include, but are not limited to:

      1. Local level public and private service providers, advocacy organizations, and other organizations working with delinquent children.

      2. County and municipal governments.

      3. State agencies that provide services to children and their families.

      4. University youth centers.

      5. Judges, state attorneys, public defenders, and The Florida Bar.

      6. Victims of crimes committed by children.

      7. Law enforcement.

      8. Delinquent children and their families and caregivers. The district juvenile justice board must develop its district juvenile justice plan in close cooperation with the appropriate health and human services board of the Department of Children and Family Services, local school districts, local law enforcement agencies, and other community groups and must update the plan annually. To aid the planning process, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide to district juvenile justice boards routinely collected ethnicity data. The Department of Law Enforcement shall include ethnicity as a field in the Florida Intelligence Center database, and shall collect the data routinely and make it available to district juvenile justice boards.

History.--s. 11, ch. 88-381; s. 3, ch. 90-207; s. 18, ch. 90-208; s. 4, ch. 91-158; s. 5, ch. 92-58; s. 1, ch. 93-196; s. 2, ch. 93-200; ss. 1, 2, ch. 93-408; s. 22, ch. 94-209; s. 1337, ch. 95-147; ss. 6, 34, ch. 95-267; s. 44, ch. 96-398; s. 160, ch. 97-101; s. 73, ch. 97-238; s. 30, ch. 98-207; s. 141, ch. 99-3; s. 52, ch. 99-284.

Note.--Former s. 959.31; s. 39.025.