All Roll Calls
Yes: 126 • No: 3
KentuckySB 1702026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
AN ACT relating to status offenses.
Sponsored By: Brandon J. Storm (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Children And MinorsCourtsCriminal ProcedureEducation, Elementary And SecondaryLocal MandateReports Mandated
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 7 mixed.
Stronger limits on status detention
Children under 14 cannot be held in secure detention for status offenses. Children 14 and older may be held securely, usually no more than 7 days without written court findings; no one can be held more than 30 days. Secure detention cannot be used as punishment for status offenses, except after a finding of a valid court‑order violation under the law. To detain after the hearing, the state must show probable cause and that detention protects the child or community; otherwise the child is released and the complaint dismissed. Courts cannot convert a status offense into a public offense just for violating a valid court order. Two older statutes on family teams and detention are repealed and replaced by these rules.
Serious charges: secure hold and help
If a child is accused of a violent felony, they must be held in secure juvenile detention for up to 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. If the court keeps a child charged with a capital, Class A, or B felony in custody, it must be in a secure juvenile center and reviewed before the next court date. Children detained under the violent‑felony rule must get a mental health assessment, and DJJ must provide or refer for any recommended treatment. Approved nonprofits and faith groups may visit and help with mentoring, jobs, or counseling after release.
Short holds and DJJ referrals
If a child is accused of a public offense, they can be held up to 48 hours before the detention hearing. A judge or commissioner must hold the hearing within that time and weigh the offense and the child’s history. In counties with a state‑run secure detention center, public‑offense cases must be referred to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Short holds and exceptions for status
A child alleged to be a status offender can be held only up to 24 hours before the detention hearing, excluding weekends and holidays. Except for a listed exception, an alleged status offender may be held until the next court date, with court review. If charged with violating a valid court order, the child may be held up to 48 hours, and any secure hold before the hearing is capped at 24 hours; weekends and holidays do not count. Secure detention in intermittent holding facilities is not allowed. If usual placements are used up or not suitable, the court worker may place the child in a secure juvenile facility, a juvenile holding facility, or a DJJ‑approved nonsecure setting until the hearing. Secure detention is also allowed during an interstate compact transfer started by the cabinet.
Clear steps before truancy court
When a grades 6–12 student becomes truant, the school must send a written notice with rules and help options. At five unexcused absences, the school must file a truancy precomplaint listing dates, prior notice, contacts, and supports tried. The court worker must assess needs, share results within 48 hours, convene RISE, and give a written plan; in SOAR schools, any no‑action choice gets RISE review. In SOAR, at fifteen unexcused absences the court worker must alert the county attorney, who decides if a habitual truancy complaint should be filed. Before any status case goes to court, parties must meet the court worker for a diversion conference to try services or a diversion agreement.
School-court truancy help starts 2026
Beginning August 1, 2026, the courts run a SOAR pilot in at least 10 districts. In participating schools, students in grades 6–12 with five or more unexcused absences must join SOAR with a parent or custodian. Each school creates a RISE team to meet with the family, write a plan, and connect them to services. The court worker leads the team, contacts the school before diversion, and alerts the school when diversion starts and ends. Districts must share attendance data, and RISE teams share student information with justice partners, following privacy laws.
New school truancy and diversion rules
Beginning August 1, 2026, in schools that run SOAR, directors of pupil personnel must investigate absences and handle notices and precomplaints. If a grades 6–12 student has 15 or more unexcused absences in a school year, the director must report the case to the county attorney. When a truancy precomplaint is filed, the court-designated worker follows required intake and diversion steps. Family diversion plans last up to 12 months and must include an attendance plan; if the child has 8 unexcused days in one term after it starts, the family fails the agreement. If a child misses intake, refuses, or fails diversion, public offenses go to the county attorney; status cases from SOAR schools go to the RISE team, and status cases from non‑SOAR schools go to the county attorney. Court-designated workers also take on more duties, like screenings, diversion planning, graduated sanctions, tracking outcomes, and working with schools and providers.
More kids counted as state agency children
Children referred by a court‑designated worker and admitted to a DJJ day treatment program are now defined as state agency children. This links them to state-run education services and oversight for those programs. It does not create new cash payments.
More tracking of truancy actions
Starting July 1, 2027, the courts send lawmakers a yearly SOAR report with referrals, services, and outcomes. Starting in the 2027–2028 school year, districts must record truancy filings and results in the state student system.
New misdemeanor for breaking rules
Anyone who intentionally violates this juvenile‑justice chapter commits a Class B misdemeanor.
Courts must check more before detaining kids
Before detaining a child for breaking a valid court order, the court must confirm the order was valid and find a violation at the hearing. The court must also get and review a new agency report within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. The agency must meet and interview the child within 24 hours after notification, not counting weekends and holidays. If the child stays detained, the agency must deliver its written report within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. Detention while waiting for the report is capped at 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, and the court’s findings must be written in the order.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Brandon J. Storm
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Danny Carroll
Republican • Senate
Wade Williams
Republican • House
Matt Nunn
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/27/2026
3rd reading, passed
Yes: 89 • No: 3
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
passed
Yes: 37 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 69)
4/10/2026delivered to Governor
3/31/2026enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
3/31/2026enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
3/27/2026received in Senate
3/27/2026Senate3rd reading, passed 89-3
3/27/2026posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026
3/19/20262nd reading, to Rules
3/12/2026reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
3/11/2026to Judiciary (H)
3/9/2026Houseto Committee on Committees (H)
2/25/2026Housereceived in House
2/25/2026Housepassed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendments (2) and (3)
2/24/2026floor amendment (1) withdrawn
2/24/20263rd reading
2/24/2026floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute
2/23/2026floor amendment (1) filed to bill, floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute
2/20/2026posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 24 2026
2/20/20262nd reading, to Rules
2/20/2026reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
2/19/2026to Judiciary (S)
2/11/2026Senateto Committee on Committees (S)
2/6/2026Senateintroduced in Senate
2/6/2026Senate
Bill Text
Current
2/24/2026
Introduced
2/5/2026
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