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32 <br /> Chapter 24, Section 40 (Senate Bill 150 of 1994 Extra Session) <br /> Requested . by: Representatives Nesbitt, Diamont, Gist, Holt, Redwine, Bowie, <br /> Michaux, Senators Daniel, Plyler, Cooper, Soles <br /> TEEN COURT PROGRAM FUNDS <br /> Sec. 40. (a) Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Judicial <br /> Department, the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars (575,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal <br /> year shall be used to develop and implement "teen court" programs in judicial <br /> districts to be selected by the Administrative Office of the Courts. These programs <br /> are to be made available to junior and senior high schools within the selected judicial <br /> districts. Any grant application shall be reviewed and approved by the chief district <br /> court judge for the district in which the program is to be conducted. Grants from the <br /> Administrative Office of the Courts to any local agency or authority shall be used to <br /> develop and implement programs that meet either or both of the following objectives: <br /> (1) Development and implementation of a "teen court" program as a <br /> community resource for the selected judicial districts. Cases in <br /> which a juvenile allegedly commits an offense within the <br /> jurisdiction of the juvenile court, as specified in the teen court <br /> plan, which offense, if committed by an adult, would constitute a <br /> crime or infraction, may be diverted by law enforcement or the <br /> court, or referred by intake Services, to "teen court" to be <br /> "sentenced" by a jury of the juvenile's peers. The plan shall <br /> specify the kinds of offenses that are appropriate for referral to <br /> teen court. "Sentences" may include counseling, restitution, <br /> curfews, or community service, as well as other rehabilitative <br /> measures; or <br /> (2) "Teen court" model programs made available to all junior and <br /> senior high school students in the selected judicial districts to <br /> handle problems that develop at school but that have not been <br /> turned over to the juvenile authorities. <br /> (b) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall distribute the funds to <br /> grantees in quarterly payments beginning July 1994 and ending April 1995. Grantees <br /> shall provide the Administrative Office of the Courts with quarterly reports as to the <br /> expenditure of funds and relevant statistical data. <br /> (c) Grantees of the funds shall report at least annually to the <br /> Administrative Office of the Courts and to officials of the selected judicial districts. <br /> The Administrative Office of the Courts shall evaluate the effectiveness of the <br /> programs and report its findings and any recommendations by March 15, 1995, to the <br /> Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and to the Chairs of the <br /> House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Justice and Public Safety. <br /> (d) in addition to the reports required in subsection (d) of Section 80 of <br /> Chapter 561 of the 1993 Session Laws, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall <br /> make an interim report by May 15, 1994, on the effectiveness of the Cumberland <br /> County "Teen Court" program established pursuant to Section 80 of Chapter 561 of <br /> the 1993 Session Laws. <br />