County Commission | The Magazine August 2017 | Page 31

NEWS YOU CAN USE
Task Forces Take on Tough Issues:
Juvenile Justice and Railway Safety
F
Recommendations must comply
or David Money and Randy Cole,
with four principles. They must:
the 2017 Regular Session of the
• Protect public safety
Alabama Legislature had barely ended
• Hold juvenile offenders accountable
when they took on new responsibilities
• Contain costs
to prepare for the next year’s session.
• Improve outcomes for youth,
During this interim period, they are
families and communities in
representing counties
Alabama.
on a pair of
legislative study
The group, which met for the
commissions.
first
time in June, is working with
Money,
experts from the Pew Charitable
who is probate
Trusts
who are providing
judge and
perspective on reform efforts in
commission
other states. Roundtable
v
chairman in
id
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discussions are
oney
Henry County, was
being planned to
nominated by ACCA to serve on
gather feedback
the Alabama Juvenile Justice
from additional
Task Force. This 17-member
stakeholder
task force is charged with
groups
such
completing a comprehensive
as families,
review of the state’s juvenile
probation
officer,
justice system
Ra
judges, crime
nd
and developing evidence-based
y C
ole
victim
advocates, faith
policy recommendations.
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leaders, prosecutors, educators
and others.
This is a high-priority issue for
Alabama counties, which will spend
$26 million on juvenile housing,
transportation and medical care this
year. Recommendations from this
group, which can build on work of a
similar panel last year, are due to the
governor, the legislature and Alabama’s
chief justice by February 2018.
The juvenile justice task force
was created by a legislative resolution
sponsored by Sen. Cam Ward,
chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee. Ward, who hails from
Shelby County, also sponsored a
resolution creating the Alabama
Commission on Railway Safety.
Cole, engineer in Shelby
County, is ACCA’s representative on
this commission. This 17-member
commission includes representation
from the Alabama Public Service
Commission, Alabama Department of
Transportation, Alabama Emergency
Management Agency, state and local
public safety agencies as well as the
railroad industry.
This body is tasked with
reviewing current railroad safety laws,
regulations and procedures and then
recommending improvements to
promote and enhance public railway
safety in this state. Improvements
could include implementing innovative
technology, improving highway traffic
flow and grade separation, closing
redundant grade crossings and
increasing funding for the Department of
Transportation’s Section 130 Program.
The commission must submit
findings and recommendations to the
legislature early in the 2018 regular
session, set to begin January 9. n
COUNTY COMMISSION | 31