§ 75-7024 — Commissioner of juvenile justice; powers and duties

In addition to other powers and duties provided by law, in administering the provisions of the revised Kansas juvenile justice code, the commissioner of juvenile justice shall:
(a) Establish divisions which include the following functions in the juvenile justice authority:
(1) Operations. The commissioner shall operate the juvenile intake and assessment system as it relates to the juvenile offender; provide technical assistance and help facilitate community collaboration; license juvenile correctional facilities, programs and providers; assist in coordinating a statewide system of community based service providers; establish pilot projects for community based service providers; and operate the juvenile correctional facilities.
(2) Research and prevention. The commissioner shall generate, analyze and utilize data to review existing programs and identify effective prevention programs; to develop new program initiatives and restructure existing programs; and to assist communities in risk assessment and effective resource utilization.
(3) Contracts. The commissioner shall secure the services of direct providers by contracting with such providers, which may include nonprofit, private or public agencies, to provide functions and services needed to operate the juvenile justice authority. The commissioner shall contract with local service providers, when available, to provide twenty-four-hour-a-day intake and assessment services. Nothing provided for herein shall prohibit local municipalities, through interlocal agreements, from corroborating with and participating in the intake and assessment services established in K.S.A. 75-7023, and amendments thereto. All contracts entered into by the commissioner to secure the services of direct providers shall contain a clause allowing the inspector general unlimited access to such facility, records or personnel pursuant to subsection (a)(4)(B).
(4) Performance audit. (A) The commissioner randomly shall audit contracts to determine that service providers are performing as required pursuant to the contract.
(B) Within the division conducting performance audits, the commissioner shall designate a staff person to serve in the capacity of inspector general. Such inspector general, or such inspector general's designee, shall have the authority to: (i) Enforce compliance with all contracts; (ii) perform audits as necessary to ensure compliance with the contracts. The inspector general shall have unlimited access to any and all facilities, records or personnel of any provider that has contracted with the commissioner to determine that such provider is in compliance with the contracts; and (iii) establish a statewide juvenile justice hotline to respond to any complaints or concerns that have been received concerning juvenile justice.
(b) Adopt rules and regulations necessary for the administration of this act.
(c) Administer all state and federal funds appropriated to the juvenile justice authority and may coordinate with any other agency within the executive branch expending funds appropriated for juvenile justice.
(d) Administer the development and implementation of a juvenile justice information system.
(e) Administer the transition to and implementation of juvenile justice system reforms.
(f) Coordinate with the judicial branch of state government any duties and functions which effect the juvenile justice authority.
(g) Serve as a resource to the legislature and other state policymakers.
(h) Make and enter into all contracts and agreements and do all other acts and things necessary or incidental to the performance of functions and duties and the execution of powers under this act. The commissioner may enter into memorandums of agreement or contractual relationships with state agencies, other governmental entities or private providers as necessary to carry out the commissioner's responsibilities pursuant to the revised Kansas juvenile justice code.
(i) Accept custody of juvenile offenders so placed by the court.
(j) Assign juvenile offenders placed in the commissioner's custody to juvenile correctional facilities based on information collected by the reception and diagnostic evaluation, intake and assessment report, pursuant to K.S.A. 75-7023, and amendments thereto, and the predispositional investigation report, pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2360, and amendments thereto.
(k) Establish and utilize a reception and diagnostic evaluation for all juvenile offenders to be evaluated prior to placement in a juvenile correctional facility.
(l) Assist the judicial districts in establishing community based placement options, juvenile community correctional services and aftercare transition services for juvenile offenders.
(m) Review, evaluate and restructure the programmatic mission and goals of the juvenile correctional facilities to accommodate greater specialization for each facility.
(n) Adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to encourage the sharing of information between individuals and agencies who are involved with the juvenile.
(o) Designate in each judicial district an entity which shall be responsible for juvenile justice field services not provided by court services officers in the judicial district. The commissioner shall contract with such entity and provide grants to fund such field services.
(p) Monitor placement trends and minority confinement.
(q) Develop and submit to the joint committee on corrections and juvenile justice oversight a recommendation to provide for the financial viability of the Kansas juvenile justice system. Such recommendation shall include a formula for the allocation of state funds to community programs and a rationale in support of the recommendation. The commissioner shall avoid pursuing construction or expansion of state institutional capacity when appropriate alternatives to such placements are justified. The commissioner's recommendations shall identify a revenue source sufficient to appropriately fund expenditures anticipated to be incurred subsequent to expansion of community-based capacity and necessary to finance recommended capital projects.
(r) Report monthly to the joint committee on corrections and juvenile justice oversight. The commissioner shall review with the committee any contracts or memorandums of agreement with other state agencies prior to the termination of such agreements or contracts.
(s) Have the authority to designate all or a portion of a facility for juveniles under the commissioner's jurisdiction as a:
(1) Nonsecure detention facility;
(2) facility for the educational or vocational training and related services;
(3) facility for temporary placement pending other arrangements more appropriate for the juvenile's needs; and
(4) facility for the provision of care and other services and not for the detention of juveniles.
(t) After June 30, 2002, subject to appropriation acts, implement a program to make grants for the juvenile justice programs, pursuant to K.S.A. 75-7033, and amendments thereto, on a two-year funding cycle.

Legislative History

L. 1996, ch. 229, § 3; L. 1997, ch. 156, § 99; L. 1998, ch. 187, § 16; L. 1999, ch. 156, § 25; L. 2001, ch. 123, § 1; L. 2006, ch. 169, § 129; January 1, 2007.