§ 16-13-331. State reimbursement

(a) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall administer the state reimbursement to the counties for the juvenile officers’ previous year’s salaries.

(b) In order for a county to receive the state reimbursement for juvenile officers, the county must submit the following documentation to the office, including, but not limited to:

1. (1) Proof of each juvenile officer’s certification and continuing education hours;

2. (2) A copy of each juvenile officer’s W-2 form for the salary year that is being reimbursed; and

3. (3) A completed form concerning the employment status of the officer which shall be designed and distributed by the office.

(c) If a county contracts with a service provider to provide juvenile services pursuant to § 16-13-330, the county must submit documentation to the office, including, but not limited to:

1. (1) A copy of the contract for the salary year that is being reimbursed;

2. (2) A copy of each juvenile officer’s certification and continuing education hours;

3. (3) A copy of each juvenile officer’s W-2 form for the salary year that is being reimbursed; and

4. (4) A completed form concerning the employment status of each officer which shall be designed and distributed by the office.

(d)

1. (1) A county may determine that part-time service of a juvenile officer is sufficient to meet the needs of the county.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Multiple counties in a judicial district may share the cost of the salary of the juvenile officer.

   2. (B) One (1) county may be designated as the county to be reimbursed by the state, or each county shall designate the portion of the salary that it pays for juvenile services.

3. (3)

   1. (A) A county may contract with a service provider for full-time or part-time juvenile officer services, and the county shall indicate the percentage of the contractor’s time that is spent providing juvenile officer services for the county.

   2. (B) The county or the contractor shall be reimbursed for one-half (1/2) of the portion of the salary that is used for such services, up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

(e) Nothing in this section removes the obligation of each circuit judge designated to hear juvenile cases in a district plan under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 14, originally issued April 6, 2001, to have a minimum of one (1) intake officer, pursuant to § 16-13-328, and one (1) probation officer, pursuant to § 16-13-327.

(f) Funds appropriated for county reimbursement as provided in this section and for which a county has not submitted reimbursement documentation by January 1 of each year as required under subsection (b) of this section may be distributed to a county based on the following factors:

1. (1) The use of or inability of a county to use risk assessment and behavioral health screenings;

2. (2) The financial need of the county;

3. (3) The juvenile crime rate of the county;

4. (4) The juvenile division of circuit court reduction in commitments and the need for community service in the county; and

5. (5) The plan of the juvenile division of circuit court or the county for the use of funds for the provision of juvenile officer services.