GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

EXTRA SESSION 1994

S	1 

SENATE BILL 134

Short Title:  Child-Placement Alternatives/Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Perdue; Gulley and Allran.
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Referred to:  Juveniles/Prevention.
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February 15, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ALLOW MORE JUVENILES IN NEED OF A STABLE AND DISCIPLINED UPBRINGING TO BE PLACED IN FAMILY GROUP HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT FACILITIES.
Whereas, the General Assembly finds that troubled juveniles, whether abused, dependent, neglected, undisciplined, or delinquent, are often deprived of a stable home environment that provides for their emotional as well as physical needs and suffer from a lack of self-esteem, stability, and self-discipline; and
Whereas, the General Assembly finds when these juveniles are removed from their homes, single-home foster care placement often does not supply the self-esteem, stability, and discipline these juveniles need; and
Whereas, the General Assembly finds that family group homes and residential placement facilities are able to provide this self-esteem, stability, and discipline both for short-term and long-term placements but that there are insufficient places available in these homes and facilities for these troubled juveniles; and
Whereas, the General Assembly finds that many family group homes and residential placement facilities provide family-centered services and treatment, which take the juvenile's natural family into consideration as part of the services and treatment equation and thus offer the possibility of positive change both for the juvenile's natural family and the juvenile's natural environment; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Social Services, the sum of one million six hundred eighty-one thousand four hundred eighty-nine dollars ($1,681,489) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to provide 50 places for juveniles adjudicated undisciplined, or delinquent pursuant to a court order.
(b) The Division of Social Services and district court judges hearing juvenile cases are urged to consider placing juveniles in need of a stable and disciplined foster care environment for either the short or the long term in family group homes or residential placement facilities.
Sec. 2.   This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.