HB352 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul W. LeeRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Juvenile courts, Department of Youth Services responsible for housing and caring for child ordered to be transferred to custody of Department of Youth Services, Department of Youth Services to reimburse county detention facility for costs incurred under certain circumstances.
Summary: HB352 requires the Department of Youth Services to reimburse county detention facilities for housing a child ordered into DYS custody, with defined timing rules and technical updates to the juvenile-justice law.
What This Bill Does
If a court orders a child to be transferred to DYS custody, DYS must reimburse the county for housing the child after the transfer under specified conditions. If DYS does not accept the child for commitment within the prescribed days, DYS must reimburse the county for detention costs incurred, including medical, dental, and mental health expenses. The bill adds a temporary provision (Oct 1, 2024 through Sept 30, 2025) requiring DYS to accept a child for commitment within 16 business days, and it clarifies that DYS may subsidize detention costs up to half the average detention cost, depending on funds appropriated.

Who It Affects
County detention facilities: will be reimbursed by the Department of Youth Services for housing a child ordered to DYS custody, and may receive subsidies for detention costs.
Department of Youth Services and local governments (counties): gain new financial responsibilities and guidance on timelines for accepting custody, with funding mechanisms and potential reimbursements affecting budgets.

Key Provisions
Amends Sections 12-15-208 and 12-15-215 to require the Department of Youth Services to reimburse county detention facilities for housing a child once the child is ordered to the custody of DYS.
If DYS fails to accept a child for commitment within the prescribed number of days, DYS must reimburse the county for detention costs incurred after the deadline, including medical, dental, and mental health costs.
Between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, DYS must accept a child for commitment within 16 business days of receipt of the order; otherwise the county is entitled to reimbursement for ongoing detention costs.
DYS may subsidize the detention of children in juvenile detention facilities up to one-half of the average cost of detention, subject to funds appropriated by the Legislature.
Nonsubstantive, technical revisions are included to update the language to current style, and the act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Courts & Judges