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TO CREATE A STUDY COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE NEED TO REFORM SOUTH CAROLINA'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGARDING PROPOSED CHANGES TO STATE LAWS AND TO THE POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND PROGRAMS OF AGENCIES AND OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS WHOSE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IMPACT CHILDREN AT RISK OF ENTERING, OR WHO HAVE ENTERED, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) There is created the "Juvenile Justice Reform Study Committee" to determine the need to reform juvenile justice policies, practices, and programs in the State of South Carolina to improve outcomes for children who are at risk of entering, or who have entered, the juvenile justice system.
(B) The study committee must review relevant statutes and regulations, as well as policies, practices, and programs of schools, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Mental Health, law enforcement, the courts, and any other public institutions or private organizations the study committee determines appropriate. The study committee shall take into consideration relevant data and statistics as part of the review process including, but not limited to, the range and frequency of disciplinary measures used by schools, law enforcement, and the courts; any correlation between student demographics, including gender, race, and age, with disciplinary measures used; the range and frequency of misconduct resulting in the use of discipline whether by a school, law enforcement, or the courts; the prevalence of a history of child abuse or neglect, and of mental health evaluations, diagnoses, or treatment, for children who are at risk of entering, or who have entered, the juvenile justice system; and the range of services provided to children who are at risk of entering, or who have entered, the juvenile justice system by schools, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Mental Health, law enforcement, the courts, and community organizations.
(C) The study committee must be composed of three members of the Senate, appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Vacancies in the study committee's membership must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner of original appointment.
(D) The Senate and House Judiciary Committees shall provide appropriate staffing for the study committee.
(E) The study committee shall provide a report with recommendations to the General Assembly by February 1, 2017, at which time the study committee must be dissolved.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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