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KentuckySB 1702026 Regular SessionSenate

AN ACT relating to status offenses.

Sponsored By: Brandon J. Storm (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Children And MinorsCourtsCriminal ProcedureEducation, Elementary And SecondaryReports MandatedLocal Mandate

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

16 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 8 mixed.

Faster reviews and care in detention

When a detained status offender is reported, an agency must interview the child within 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. If the child stays detained after the hearing, the agency must file a written report within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. In counties served by a state-run secure facility, the Department of Juvenile Justice must assess security and place a child charged with a public offense in an approved program. Any child detained as an alleged violent felony suspect gets a confidential mental health assessment, and DJJ provides or arranges recommended treatment; the court may order completion after release.

Stronger limits on locking up status children

The law bars secure detention for status offenders under age 14. For older youth, secure detention cannot exceed seven days without written court findings and can never exceed 30 days. Agencies must use the least restrictive option near home and avoid limiting movement unless needed for safety. Courts cannot use secure intermittent holding, punish a child with secure detention for a status offense without a valid‑court‑order finding, or reclassify a status offender as a public offender just for violating a court order. Judges must find probable cause and a safety need to detain; otherwise the child is released to a parent or custodian.

County attorney alerted at 15 absences

Directors of pupil personnel must report two things to the county attorney. They must report K–5 students with 15 or more unexcused absences due to a parent or guardian’s violation. They must also report grade 6–12 habitual truants with 15 or more unexcused days. The county attorney then decides if court action is needed.

RISE school teams and record sharing

The law makes RISE teams part of the juvenile justice system in SOAR schools on August 1, 2026. Teams can share student information with listed juvenile agencies under state and federal privacy rules. When a complaint is filed or a child joins SOAR, all schools must provide the written‑requested student records for pre‑adjudication use, keep a release log, and prevent re‑sharing without parent consent. When a habitual truancy complaint is filed in court, the county attorney must notify the district’s director of pupil personnel with the filing date.

School SOAR pilot and truancy steps

The law creates a SOAR pilot in at least ten school districts. It starts August 1, 2026 and runs four years, until July 31, 2030, unless extended. Students in grades 6–12 at selected schools get coordinated help to improve attendance and finish diversions. If a SOAR student reaches 15 unexcused absences, the court worker notifies the county attorney, who reviews and may direct the school to file a habitual truancy complaint. Starting July 1, 2027, courts file a yearly SOAR report, and districts record truancy actions beginning with the 2027–28 school year.

School-based help for truant students

Beginning August 1, 2026, selected middle and high schools run the SOAR program with court staff leading it. If a student in grades 6–12 at a SOAR school has five unexcused days in a term, the student and a parent must take part. Each school sets up a RISE team to meet the family, make a written plan, and connect them to services. The court-designated worker leads the team, contacts the family after a precomplaint, completes a needs check, shares results within 48 hours, and provides case management. Directors of pupil personnel must give written truancy notices, file a precomplaint at five unexcused days, and join SOAR work. Districts must share attendance data needed for SOAR.

Stronger diversion before juvenile court

Before a status offense case starts in court, the parties must meet with a court-designated worker to consider services or a diversion agreement. The worker must do a short intake check to decide next steps. After intake, the worker may take no action, refer a public offense to the county attorney, try an informal adjustment, or, with required approval, enter a diversion. If a child skips intake, refuses, or fails a diversion, the case can go to the county attorney or to a RISE team if the school uses SOAR; the cabinet investigates if a parent’s noninvolvement is the main issue. A court or county attorney can ask the court to review any decision the worker makes at any stage.

Stronger diversion plans led by court workers

Before intake, the worker gives you written notice about rights, privacy limits, and the option to have a lawyer. Intake uses evidence‑based screening and, when available, a validated risk and needs assessment. The worker holds a family conference and makes a diversion plan that lasts no more than 12 months, includes school attendance, and can add services, community service, and restitution only for actual money loss the child can pay. The worker must get school background info, notify the district when the plan starts and when it is completed, and send intake findings and any family assessment to the court if the case is referred. Finishing the plan means the complaint is dismissed; but eight unexcused days in one term after the plan starts counts as failure. Court‑designated workers can manage cases, use graduated sanctions, and dispose of up to three status or nonfelony complaints per child and, with written county‑attorney approval, one eligible felony.

Old family teams and detention law repealed

The law repeals the statute that created family accountability, intervention, and response teams. It also repeals the prior detention law for adjudicated status offenders. Agencies now follow the new diversion, RISE/SOAR, and detention rules in this Act.

Shorter holds and clear prehearing rules

If held on a status offense before a detention hearing, a child may be detained no more than 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. For public offenses, the cap is 48 hours and placement can be in a secure facility or a Department‑approved nonsecure setting. A child accused of a violent felony must be held in secure detention for up to 48 hours, unless age 10 or younger or the hearing can be held within normal officer custody time. If other placement options are exhausted or not appropriate, the worker may use secure detention, a holding facility, or an approved nonsecure setting while waiting for the hearing. If a status offender is held for breaking a court order, the child can be detained up to 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, until the next court appearance.

Community help for detained teens

People from nonprofit, faith‑based, or community groups may visit children detained as alleged violent‑felony suspects. They can connect youth to trades, arts, sports, mentoring, counseling, and other programs. These groups may also offer transition help after release.

More due‑process before detention on violations

Before detaining a status offender for violating a valid court order, the court must confirm the order was valid and find a violation at the adjudicatory hearing. Within 48 hours after that hearing, not counting weekends and holidays, the court must receive and review a new written agency report on the child and alternatives. While waiting for the report, the child may be detained no more than 48 hours; any secure detention before the detention hearing cannot exceed 24 hours. The order must include the required findings, and an old report in the file cannot be used to meet the report rule.

New councils to coordinate youth care

The state creates a State Interagency Council and regional councils to plan and improve services for children and transition‑age youth with behavioral health needs. Agencies on the council must sign interagency agreements, and the council can issue rules. The Cabinet must report how many youth with status offenses are committed or on probation to the Cabinet. Parent and youth council members can get expense reimbursement for work outside their jobs.

Clearer rules for state agency students

Schools may label a child “beyond the control of the school” only after a court finds repeated rule violations and the school files written records of behavior and all interventions. Children referred by a court‑designated worker and admitted to a DJJ day treatment program now count as state agency children. The state directs contracts and funds to provide KECSAC education for these students, excluding Oakwood and Hazelwood funds.

Interstate transfer can allow secure detention

When the cabinet has started or plans to start an interstate compact transfer, a status offender may be held in secure detention during that transfer process.

Clearer terms and penalties in juvenile law

The juvenile code now uses the same meaning of “firearm” as KRS 237.060. Anyone who intentionally violates the juvenile status‑offense chapter is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brandon J. Storm

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Danny Carroll

    Republican • Senate

  • Matt Nunn

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 126 • No: 3

House vote • 3/27/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 89 • No: 3

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

passed

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 69)

    4/10/2026

  2. delivered to Governor

    3/31/2026

  3. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

    3/31/2026Senate

  4. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

    3/27/2026Senate

  5. received in Senate

    3/27/2026Senate

  6. 3rd reading, passed 89-3

    3/27/2026House

  7. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026

    3/19/2026House

  8. 2nd reading, to Rules

    3/12/2026House

  9. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

    3/11/2026House

  10. to Judiciary (H)

    3/9/2026House

  11. to Committee on Committees (H)

    2/25/2026House

  12. received in House

    2/25/2026House

  13. passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendments (2) and (3)

    2/24/2026Senate

  14. floor amendment (1) withdrawn

    2/24/2026Senate

  15. 3rd reading

    2/24/2026Senate

  16. floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute

    2/23/2026Senate

  17. floor amendment (1) filed to bill, floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute

    2/20/2026Senate

  18. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 24 2026

    2/20/2026Senate

  19. 2nd reading, to Rules

    2/20/2026Senate

  20. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

    2/19/2026Senate

  21. to Judiciary (S)

    2/11/2026Senate

  22. to Committee on Committees (S)

    2/6/2026Senate

  23. introduced in Senate

    2/6/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Current

    2/24/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/5/2026

    PDF

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