A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the local juvenile crime prevention councils.
Whereas, in response to concerns about juvenile crime, the General Assembly enacted the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1998, which established Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils in every county of the State for the purpose of developing community‑based alternatives to the commitment of juveniles in State and local facilities and for providing community‑based delinquency and substance abuse prevention strategies and programs; and
Whereas, the General Assembly, by establishing the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils, accorded greater emphasis and resources to innovative and creative community strategies, solutions, and services to prevent juveniles who are at risk from becoming undisciplined and delinquent; and
Whereas, a majority of the juveniles adjudicated undisciplined or delinquent in this State suffer from mental illness or drug dependency or addiction; and
Whereas, for the last five years, an average of 63% of the juveniles committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention have been African‑Americans though they comprise only 26% of the total North Carolina youth population; and
Whereas, since the enactment of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act in 1998, the State has had budget deficits which have caused the General Assembly to reduce funding for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils and for communities attempting to provide much‑needed intervention and prevention services for juveniles who are at risk of becoming undisciplined or delinquent; and 
Whereas, the intent and potentially positive impact of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act has been greatly diminished due to the reduction in funding of the Councils since 1998; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year to be allocated to the local Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils. The funds shall be allocated based on the population of the counties served by the Councils and shall be used to continue to implement juvenile justice reform and to provide for early intervention and prevention of juvenile crime and delinquency.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.