Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB125: AN ACT relating to juvenile justice.
Status: In committee, April 1, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 200 to define terms; establish procedures for a child charged with a public offense to determine if the child is a high acuity youth; establish procedures for securing a treatment plan and dispute resolution through a review process and the court if the parties cannot agree to a plan; require a 24-hour protocol for health facilities, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the courts to direct care; establish reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care of a child by psychiatric hospitals and pediatric teaching hospitals; establish procedures for discharge and transfer of the child from an inpatient admission under specific circumstances; amend KRS 15A.305 to include a mental health facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice as an identified facility for the detention and treatment of children; direct the operation of 2 female-only facilities with authority to increase as population increases; direct reimbursement rates for local governments lodging juveniles to be set by administrative regulation; amend KRS 600.020 to remove and add defined terms; amend KRS 610.265 to remove beginning date that is past; amend KRS 610.340 to enable release of information in specific circumstances; amend various sections of KRS to conform; authorize the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to construct a high acuity youth mental health facility, subject to funding; direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide clinical services; direct the Department of Juvenile Justice to continue to implement the plan to return to a regional model of detention.
What the bill says
An act relating to juvenile justice.
From the committee substitute text:
AN ACT relating to juvenile justice. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 200 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Behavioral assessment" means an evaluation of a child by a clinical professional, which may occur in person, remotely, or through the review of clinical records; (b) "Clinical professional" means a licensed clinician employed by, or associated with, an inpatient psychiatric hospital or pediatric teaching hospital, who is qualified to make a clinical determination whether a child meets criteria for admission to an inpatient psychiatric hospital or pediatric teaching hospital for inpatient psychiatric care; (c) "Department" means the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities; (d) "High acuity youth" means a child who has been determined by a clinical professional, following a behavioral assessment, to need an environment and specialized treatment capable of addressing manifest aggression, violence toward persons, or property destruction; (e) "Inpatient psychiatric hospital" means a hospital, other than a state mental hospital, that is licensed pursuant to KRS Chapter 216B to provide inpatient psychiatric services; and (f) "Pediatric teaching hospital" has the same meaning as in KRS 205.565. (2) A child who is charged with a public offense or subject to a court order to receive inpatient …
Sponsors
- Danny Carroll (R, SD-002) · primary sponsor
- Matt Nunn (R, SD-017)
Latest actions
- : returned to Judiciary (H)
- : 2nd reading
- : taken from Judiciary (H)
- : returned to Judiciary (H)
- : 1st reading
- : taken from Judiciary (H)
- : to Judiciary (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : received in House
- : passed 36-0 with Committee Substitute (2)
Votes
- Senate: PASS SB 125 w/ SCS 2 (SCS 2) RSN# 3873 (March 2, 2026): 36 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Crimes And Punishments, Children And Minors, Health And Medical Services, Technical Corrections
Common questions
- What is SB125?
- SB125 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to juvenile justice.
- What does SB125 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to juvenile justice.
- What is the status of SB125?
- In committee as of April 1, 2026. Latest action: returned to Judiciary (H) (April 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB125?
- Danny Carroll (R, SD-002), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB125?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb125.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.