SENATE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 46

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 23, 1998

      The Senate Legislative Oversight Committee favorably reports Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 46 with committee amendments.

      As amended, this concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature, pursuant to Article V, Section IV, paragraph 6 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, that the regulation adopted by the Juvenile Justice Commission concerning the housing of State-sentenced juveniles in county detention centers, codified at N.J.A.C.13:90-4.2, is not consistent with legislative intent.

      The resolution finds that this regulation serves to exacerbate overcrowding at county juvenile detention centers and is inconsistent with the intention of the Legislature as expressed in the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice," P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-20 et seq.). Moreover, the current per diem reimbursement rate of $58.50, which a county receives after a juvenile's 15th day of detention, is woefully insufficient to defray the cost of maintaining these juveniles.

      The committee adopted technical amendments to reflect the adoption of the relevant regulation.