AN ACT relating to juvenile justice.
What changed between versions
The bill number changed from '26 RS BR 1631' to '26 RS SB 125/GA', indicating it moved from the House to the Senate.
New definitions were added for 'high acuity youth' (children needing specialized treatment for aggression or violence) and 'behavioral assessment'.
A new requirement mandates that all children admitted to inpatient psychiatric care must undergo a behavioral assessment by a clinical professional before admission.
If a child is identified as a 'high acuity youth', the clinical professional must contact representatives from the Department of Behavioral Health, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to agree on an immediate treatment plan.
The court cannot order a high acuity youth to an inpatient psychiatric hospital without the agreement of the hospital, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the Department of Juvenile Justice, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the facility can treat the child safely.