(Doc Name H:\LEGWORK\HOUSE\AMEND\H-WM\008\JDLH SUB 1.DOCX):
EXPLANATION: John De La Howe Transition
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 7, JOHN DE LA HOWE SCHOOL, page 327, paragraph 7.6, lines 15-30, by striking the proviso in its entirety and inserting /7.6 (JDLH: Transition) The General Assembly recognizes that multiple reports conducted over prior years have highlighted the cost inefficiencies of John de la Howe and the lack of data regarding the impact of the program on student outcomes.
The Board of Trustees of the John de la Howe School will be temporarily suspended for the current fiscal year. To wit, Sections 59-49-20, 59-49-40, 59-49-60, 59-49-80, 59-49-110, and 59-49-140 of the 1976 Code are suspended for the fiscal year. In accordance with the purposes of the will of Dr. John de la Howe, by September 30 of the current fiscal year, an advisory group comprised of one person each designated by the Director of the Department of Social Services, the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the State Superintendent of the Department of Education, the Director of the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Chair of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, a Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House, and a Senator appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate will recommend an educational, vocational, and life skills training program at the John de la Howe School for older youth who are at risk and who are aging out of the foster care or the juvenile justice supervisory programs of the Department of Social Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice. The program will utilize the funds appropriated to John de la Howe School for the costs of the program that will include school drop-out recovery to complete a high school degree, a GED program, vocational and employment training, and an aftercare program for transition of the youth to independent living and employment. Clemson University will collaborate with the advisory group regarding the development of a vocational farming component for the program.
Effective July 1, the funds appropriated to the John de la Howe School will be transferred to a line item contained in the appropriations section for the Department of Juvenile Justice. In consultation with the advisory group and as set forth herein, by November 30, the Department of Juvenile Justice will procure a contract with a non-profit child-service provider to operate the program. The non-profit child-service provider must be a nationally accredited (AdvancED) educational organization experienced in both child protection and juvenile justice programs and must be able to demonstrate a history of success in the operation of educational and vocational residential training programs for youth. The Department of Administration and the Executive Budget Office will assist the Department of Juvenile Justice as needed in the transition.
The Department of Social Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice will provide for the safe transition of the existing residents from John de la Howe School into such placements, programs and services as determined appropriate based on an assessment of their individual needs.
In the development of the program and in the qualifications and selection of the non-profit child-service provider, considerations by the advisory group will include the following:
(1) the overlap of needs of children who crossover for
services between the Department of Social Services and the
Department of Juvenile Justice;
(2) educational, school drop-out recovery, GED,
vocational programs, life skills training programs, career and
employment opportunities, and independent living programs for
these older youth clients that can be provided using the John de
la Howe School facilities, resources, and funding to assist
these youth who are at risk and aging out of state services to
prepare for success as adults;
(3) aftercare programs that will follow these youths into
the community and help them to become established in viable
employment and living situations that encourage a future free of
homelessness, unemployment, poverty, alcohol and other substance
abuse, criminal behavior, and dependence on public assistance;
(4) provide the existing child clients at John de la Howe
School with a proper, safe transition to family reunification or
other appropriate placements and services;
(5) provide consideration of current John de la Howe
School employees, where appropriate, for employment pursuant to
the new non-profit provider contract for program services;
and,
(6) how the existing funds and youth vocational training
programs can be applied to provide repairs and maintenance to
the John de la Howe School buildings and grounds.
The Department of Juvenile Justice will provide procurement for the contract, fiscal administration of the funds, contract accountability, compliance, and reporting and will submit reports by June 30th of the current fiscal year and by June 30th of the next fiscal year to the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children to inform the Committees regarding the status and progress of programs, operations, client data, facilities, and budget information. The advisory group may make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly regarding the future role of the John De La Howe School./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend totals and titles to conform.