ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 431

SECTION 6. 28. 33. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 4 of
this Act shall take effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION 7. 29. 34. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as
provided in Section 6 Sections 23 through 28 28 through 33 of this Act, this Act shall
take effect June 1, 2004.

Approved May 26, 2004.

CHAPTER 431
(Senate Bill 543)

AN ACT concerning

Department of Juvenile Services - Facilities and Reform Progress Reporting

FOR the purpose of limiting to a certain period of time the term of a certain
agreement or contract that the Department of Juvenile Services enters with
certain persons for certain services involving the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School
under certain circumstances; requiring the Department to provide to the
. Governor and certain members of the General Assembly a certain Facilities
Master Plan and a certain status reports report and certain Master Facility
Plans by certain dates; requiring the Facilities Master Plan to implement a
certain ideal delivery system and address certain issues; declaring a certain
intent of the General Assembly; requiring the Department, with the assistance
and cooperation of the State Department of Education and the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene, to provide to the Governor and certain members of
the General Assembly a certain study and certain plans, assessments,
recommendations, and reports on certain juvenile services in the State by a
certain date; requiring the Department to adopt certain regulations by a certain
date; requiring the Department to contract for a certain evaluation of the
Department's procurement and contracting procedures by a certain date;
requiring that certain facilities be operated by the Department by a certain date;
making this Act an emergency measure; and generally relating to the
Department of Juvenile Services and juvenile services in the State.

Preamble

WHEREAS, The Governor of Maryland has proposed a number of reforms to
the juvenile services system in this State, including:

(1) Juvenile facilities reform by the downsizing of the Cheltenham Youth
Facility to make it a small, modern, best-practice facility; reforming the Charles H.
Hickey, Jr. School through an emphasis on education, mental health, drug treatment,
and staff training; and conducting a facilities study to include a proposal for a Secure
Youth Facility for youths facing incarceration in adult facilities;

- 1929 -