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HB 2601

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.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Boyd and 16 co-sponsors

Creates RECLAIM Program guiding rehabilitative, community-based juvenile care with county funding, an advisory committee, and DHS oversight to shift away from confinement.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2601

Summary of HB 2601 (Session 2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

  • The bill amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, focusing on juvenile matters.
  • Its overarching aim is to reform how the state handles delinquency and youth in the juvenile justice system by establishing a structured program and advisory body, creating funding streams for county delinquent youth care, and clarifying duties for the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Key provisions and changes

  • RECLAIM Program: Establishes the RECLAIM (Recovery, Empowerment, Counseling, Linkage, Alternatives, and Meaningful youth) Program within the juvenile justice framework. While the text provided does not detail every component, the program generally connotes a shift toward community-based, rehabilitative approaches for delinquent youth, prioritizing treatment, services, and alternatives to secure confinement.
  • RECLAIM Advisory Committee: Creates a formal advisory body to guide the RECLAIM Program. This committee would likely include stakeholders from state and local agencies, service providers, and potentially community representatives to oversee program standards, performance metrics, and compliance.
  • County Delinquent Youth Care and Custody Funds: Requires the establishment of county-level funds dedicated to delinquent youth care and custody. These funds are intended to support local services, placement options, treatment, supervision, and other resources necessary to manage youth within the community or in less restrictive settings.
  • DHS Duties: Imposes or clarifies responsibilities for the Department of Human Services in relation to delinquent youth, which may include coordination with counties, oversight of service delivery, data reporting, and ensuring alignment with the RECLAIM Program and funding mechanisms.

Who would be affected

  • Delinquent youth: Potentially redirected from traditional punitive or confinement-based approaches toward community-based and rehabilitative services funded under county programs.
  • Counties and local governments: Responsible for establishing and managing the county delinquent youth care and custody funds, and for implementing RECLAIM-adjacent services in collaboration with state guidance.
  • State agencies: DHS would have defined duties to support, oversee, and coordinate the program and associated funding, working with the judiciary and counties.
  • Service providers: Local providers of counseling, treatment, supervision, and related supports may see new or expanded funding streams and program requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill designates creation and operation of new programs and committees; it implies ongoing administration, oversight, and reporting.
  • Specific implementation timelines, funding levels, eligibility criteria, performance metrics, and reporting obligations would be defined in the bill’s text and any accompanying summaries or fiscal notes. Those details would determine when counties must establish funds, when the RECLAIM Program becomes effective, and how the Advisory Committee operates (appointments, meeting cadence, reporting to the judiciary or legislature).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Shift in philosophy and practice: Emphasizes rehabilitative, community-based options over detention for many juvenile offenders.
  • Local control and resources: Puts funding and program design more directly in county hands, which could lead to variation in implementation and outcomes across counties.
  • Accountability and oversight: The RECLAIM Advisory Committee and DHS duties are intended to provide state-level governance and alignment with statewide juvenile justice goals.
  • Data and evaluation: Likely to involve data collection, performance metrics, and public reporting to assess effectiveness of the RECLAIM Program and the use of county funds.

Notes for further review

  • The exact eligibility criteria, funding formulas, and the scope of “delinquent youth care and custody funds” (e.g., permissible expenditures, oversight, matching funds) are not specified here and would be essential to assess fiscal impact and implementation burden.
  • Details on how the RECLAIM Program integrates with existing juvenile justice statutes, court processes, probation, and DHS child welfare services would clarify potential overlaps or reforms.
  • Information on sunset clauses, oversight reports, and interim milestones would help gauge the bill’s accountability framework.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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