§ 143B-853.  Funding for programs.

(a) Annually, the Division of Juvenile Justice shall develop and implement a funding mechanism for programs that meet the standards developed under this Subpart. The Division shall ensure that the guidelines for the State and local partnership's funding process include the following requirements:

(1) Fund effective programs. - The Division shall fund programs that it determines to be effective in preventing delinquency and recidivism. Programs that have proven to be ineffective shall not be funded.

(2) Use a formula for the distribution of funds. - A funding formula shall be developed that ensures that even the smallest counties will be able to provide the basic prevention and alternative services to juveniles in their communities.

(3) Allow and encourage local flexibility. - A vital component of the State and local partnership established by this section is local flexibility to determine how best to allocate prevention and alternative funds.

(4) Combine resources. - Counties shall be allowed and encouraged to combine resources and services.

(5) Allow for a two-year funding cycle. - In the discretion of the Division, awards may be provided in amounts that fund two years of services for programs that meet the requirements of this section and have been awarded funds in a prior funding cycle.

(b) The Division shall adopt rules to implement this section. The Division shall provide technical assistance to County Councils and shall require them to evaluate all State-funded programs and services on an ongoing and regular basis.

(c) The Division of Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety shall report to the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittees on Justice and Public Safety no later than March 1, 2006, and annually thereafter, on the results of intensive intervention services. Intensive intervention services are evidence-based or research-supported community-based or residential services that are necessary for a juvenile in order to (i) prevent the juvenile's commitment to a youth development center or detention facility, (ii) facilitate the juvenile's successful return to the community following commitment, or (iii) prevent further involvement in the juvenile justice system. Specifically, the report shall provide a detailed description of each intensive intervention service, including the numbers of juveniles served, their adjudication status at the time of service, the services and treatments provided, the length of service, the total cost per juvenile, and the six- and 12-month recidivism rates for the juveniles after the termination of program services. (1998-202, s. 1(b); 2000-137, s. 1(b); 2005-276, s. 16.11(c); 2011-145, s. 19.1(l), (x), (ggg); 2017-186, s. 2(llllll); 2020-83, s. 5; 2021-123, s. 6(e); 2021-180, s. 19C.9(y), (z).)