A. The "juvenile continuum grant fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the children, youth and families department and shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and bequests made to the fund.

B. Money in the juvenile continuum grant fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to the children, youth and families department for awarding grants to juvenile justice continuums for the provision of cost-effective services and temporary, nonsecure alternatives to detention for juveniles arrested or referred to juvenile probation and parole or at a risk of such referral.

C. A local or tribal government may apply for a grant from the juvenile continuum grant fund for a juvenile justice continuum within its jurisdiction. The amount of the grant application shall not exceed sixty percent of the annual cost of the continuum. A local match of forty percent may consist of money, land, equipment or in-kind services.

D. The children, youth and families department shall adopt rules on qualifications for grants and specify the format, procedure and deadlines for grant applications. The juvenile justice advisory committee shall review all grant applications and submit those applications recommended for final approval to the secretary of children, youth and families.

E. Disbursements from the juvenile continuum grant fund shall be made upon vouchers issued and signed by the secretary of children, youth and families or the secretary's designee upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration.

F. As used in this section, a "juvenile justice continuum" is a system of services and sanctions for juveniles arrested or referred to juvenile probation and parole or at risk of such referral and consists of a formal partnership among one or more units of local or tribal governments, the children's court, the district attorney, the public defender, local law enforcement agencies, the public schools and other entities such as private nonprofit organizations, the business community and religious organizations. A juvenile justice continuum shall be established through a memorandum of understanding and a continuum board.

History: Laws 2007, ch. 351, § 1.

Compiler's notes. — Laws 2007, ch. 351, § 2, transferred funds in the regional juvenile services grant fund to the juvenile continuum grant fund.

Effective dates. — Laws 2007, ch. 351, § 4 made Laws 2007, ch. 351, § 1 effective July 1, 2007.