AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF THE CONNECTICUT JUVENILE TRAINING SCHOOL.

HB 5697 requires Connecticut's Department of Children and Families (DCF) to partner with a nonprofit agency to provide secure, intensive mental and behavioral health care for high-risk youth in DCF custody. The bill directly affects adjudicated youth under DCF supervision and their parents, focusing on educational resources rather than traditional incarceration. Key provisions mandate DCF to establish this nonprofit partnership to replace the current use of the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS), aiming to shift toward therapeutic services. The bill does not change existing custody arrangements but redefines CJTS's purpose to prioritize mental health support.