Pennsylvania HB 2601: An Act providing for legislative reapportionment, for the powers and duties of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission and for a population count that includes incarcerated individuals.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3525
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2601
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, KINKEAD, McNEILL, WAXMAN, SANCHEZ,
TIBURCIO, MAYES, HILL-EVANS, POWELL, KHAN, PARKER, OTTEN,
HOHENSTEIN, FLEMING, DOUGHERTY, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, STEELE AND
BOYD, JUNE 4, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 5, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juvenile matters,
establishing the RECLAIM Program and the RECLAIM Advisory
Committee; requiring the establishment of county delinquent
youth care and custody funds; and imposing duties on the
Department of Human Services.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 63 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER H
RECLAIM PROGRAM
Sec.
6391. Definitions.
6392. RECLAIM Program.
6393. Delinquent youth care and custody funds.
6394. Allocations.
6395. RECLAIM Advisory Committee.
6396. Rules and regulations.
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6397. Funding.
§ 6391. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Adult." An individual who is 18 years of age or older.
"Advisory committee." The RECLAIM Advisory Committee
established under section 6395(a) (relating to RECLAIM Advisory
Committee).
"Bed day." The length of time that a delinquent juvenile is
assigned a bed for an overnight stay while held in a detention
facility.
"Delinquent juvenile." A juvenile who has been adjudicated
delinquent or is at risk of an adjudication of delinquency.
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Detention facility." As follows:
(1) Premises or a part of premises, which are privately
or publicly owned and operated, designated by the court and
approved by the department to detain a juvenile temporarily.
(2) The term does not include a county jail, State
prison, penal institution or other facility used primarily to
detain adults who have not been released on bail and who are
alleged to have committed a criminal offense.
"Fund." A delinquent youth care and custody fund established
by a county under section 6393 (relating to delinquent youth
care and custody funds).
"Juvenile." An individual who is under 18 years of age.
"Placement facility." As follows:
(1) Premises or a part of premises, which are privately
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or publicly owned and operated, identified by their charter,
articles of incorporation or program description, to receive
delinquent juveniles or otherwise provide treatment to
juveniles as a case disposition.
(2) The term includes a residential facility, group
home, after-school program and day program, whether secure or
nonsecure.
(3) The term does not include a county jail or State
prison.
"Program." The RECLAIM Program established under section
6392(a) (relating to RECLAIM Program).
"Secretary." The Secretary of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
§ 6392. RECLAIM Program.
(a) Establishment and purpose.--The RECLAIM Program is
established in the department as a funding initiative to assist
juvenile courts in developing new and improved services for the
care and custody of delinquent juveniles.
(b) Application process generally.--The department shall:
(1) Develop an application form for each juvenile court
of a county to use in requesting money through the program.
(2) Prescribe the process to submit a completed
application under this subsection.
(c) Agreement.--Each juvenile court of a county shall
prepare an annual funding initiative agreement, which must:
(1) Accompany a completed application under this
section.
(2) Specify the proposed programs, care and services
that will be funded under the program.
(3) Include a method of ensuring equal access for
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minority youth to the programs, care and services specified
in the annual agreement.
(d) Review and determination.--
(1) The department shall review and determine whether to
approve or disapprove, in whole or in part, each completed
application under this section.
(2) If the department disapproves, in whole or in part,
the completed application, the department shall provide the
reasons for the disapproval in writing to the applicant.
(e) Uses of grant.--A grant under the program may be used
for the operational costs for:
(1) The diagnosis, care or treatment of delinquent
juveniles at institutions that have entered into an agreement
with the department to provide those types of services to
delinquent juveniles.
(2) Placement facilities that are constructed,
reconstructed, improved or financed for the purpose of
providing alternative placeme