FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky General Assembly gave final approval this week to two bills aimed at juvenile justice reform in the Commonwealth.

House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 162 earned passage after months of discussions between lawmakers and juvenile justice stakeholders. SB 162 passed off the House floor on Thursday unanimously, and did the same in the Senate last week. The House approved HB 3 by a 79-18 vote on Feb. 28, and the Senate approved the legislation by a 29-7 vote on Tuesday.

Sen. Danny Carroll (R-Benton) said last week that SB 162 is based on the efforts of a legislative work group that began meeting in January to review ongoing issues in the state Department of Juvenile Justice. The group toured facilities throughout the state and met with numerous officials from all levels of the government, including former employees.

Calls for juvenile justice reform grew louder in late 2022 after reporting from the Herald-Leader revealed severe understaffing amd a string of dangerous attacks and riots in juvenile detention centers.

Carroll said the review revealed a myriad of problems within the department — severe understaffing, a culture of self-preservation in management, fear of retaliation on the frontlines, a lack of faith in leadership, a breakdown in communication, and a lack of services for youth with severe mental illness.

"Senate Bill 162 will not solve all these issues within DJJ," Carroll said. "But it will address the most pressing issues, and it will lay a foundation for additional changes to occur in the near future."

SB 162 would:

• have all eight juvenile detention centers report to one supervisor,
• establish a tracking system to monitor the location of each detained juvenile,
• appoint one non-voting member from the House and one from the Senate to the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council,
• allow the DJJ to enter into a contract with a third-party organization to work with juveniles with severe emotional or mental illnesses,
• allow DJJ to be given pepper spray and tasers to use during violent incidents at detention centers,
• appropriate millions toward salary increases, security upgrades at DJJ centers, and a diversionary program for youths suffering from a severe mental health crisis.

Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said SB 162 is a bill she and several others worked “very hard” on. Herron said she has concerns about some aspects of the bill, like the provision to provide DJJ workers with pepper spray and tasers.

Herron voted “yes” on the legislation on Thursday and said she was “thankful” to see the bill has a specific appropriation for severe mental health issues.

“I know that next year is going to be an official budget year. I hope that we can put more resources into the prevention, intervention, reentry and alternatives to detention as well,” Herron said.

Also on Thursday, the House concurred on changes the Senate made to HB 3, sending the legislation to the governor’s desk.

On the House floor last month, Bratcher said HB 3 will not "lock [children] up and throw away the key."

HB 3 would:

• require children taken into custody for a violent felony offense be detained a maximum of 48 hours before receiving a detention hearing and an evaluation on mental health and substance use disorders beginning July 1, 2024,
• allow members of the clergy, family and other verified support persons to visit a juvenile during the 48-hour holding period,
• enhance access to mental health care and restorative justice programs,
• appropriate $13.2 million toward the renovation of the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center and $2 million toward operating costs, and
• appropriate $4.5 million toward the renovation of the Jefferson Regional Juvenile Detention Center at Lyndon.

Both bills are now headed to Gov. Andy Beshear's desk to await his signature or veto.