MITCH NEEDELMAN

State Representative, District #31

lChair:  Environmental Regulations l  Vice Chair:  Juvenile Justice Committee
l State Resources Council l Justice Appropriations
l Select Committee on Juvenile Detention Facilities

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Bill Johnson
February 23, 2005	(850) 488-2528

LEGISLATION MODERNIZING
INTERSTATE JUVENILE COMPACTS CLEARS FIRST HURDLE

 TALLAHASSEE – Representative Mitch Needelman (R-Melbourne) received a unanimous thumbs-up today on House Bill (HB) 577 in the House Juvenile Justice Committee.  The legislation replaces the current Juvenile Interstate Compact Law, which is 50 years old, designating the independent Interstate Commission for Juveniles to administer the ongoing compact activity.

 “Florida has long needed a modernized approach to dealing with interstate issues of juvenile crime,” said Representative Needelman. “By implementing HB 577 and designating the Interstate Commission to oversee our compact with other states, we will be creating an effective system of coordinated care for juveniles, in step with an approach taken by 21 other states.” 

 HB 577 provides coordination with other interstate compacts having overlapping jurisdiction such as the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision.

 HB 577 now goes to the Justice Appropriations Committee for consideration.