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HB 1204

JUVENILES: Provides relative to the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rodney Lyons

The 15% of annual criminal-justice savings and program administration for Back on Track would move from the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund Board to the Office of Juvenile Justice

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 1204

Summary of HB 1204 (2026) — Louisiana Back on Track Youth Pilot Program

Overview

  • Purpose: To modify how funding for the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program is allocated and administered, removing the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund Board as the administering intermediary and designating the Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) as the intermediary.
  • Jurisdiction: Louisiana
  • Bill number: HB 1204
  • Session: 2026
  • Principal sponsor: Representative Lyons (with a co-sponsor noted)

What the bill changes

1) Allocation of annual “savings” from criminal justice reforms

  • Present law: Each fiscal year, a portion of “annual savings” realized from criminal justice reforms is allocated. Specifically, 15% of annual savings is designated for administration/operation of the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program, administered under R.S. 15:951.
  • HB 1204 change: The recipient of the 15% allocation shifts from the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund Board (LCTF Board) to the DPS&C, Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ). In other words, the 15% slice of savings would be administered by OJJ rather than LCTF Board.

2) Administration/intermediary of the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program

  • Present law (R.S. 15:951(C)): The program is to be administered by a combination of selected nonprofit groups and several state entities, with the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund Board acting as the intermediary with authority to manage/administrator funds and adjust funding as needed.
  • HB 1204 changes:
    • Adds the Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) as an administering entity.
    • Removes the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund Board as an administering entity.
    • Changes the intermediary responsible for managing/funding decisions from the LCTF Board to the OJJ.

Who/what is affected

  • Administrative structure: The OJJ becomes a primary administrator/intermediary for the Back on Track program, taking over duties previously held by the LCTF Board.
  • Funding flow: The 15% annual savings allocations, previously funneled through the LCTF Board, would now be allocated to and managed by the OJJ within DPS&C.
  • Partner agencies: The program remains to be administered by a coalition that includes nonprofit groups and several state agencies (as in present law), but with the OJJ assuming the intermediary role.

Key provisions (specifics)

  • Amends:
    • R.S. 15:827.3(A)(2)(d): Reallocates the 15% savings allocation from LCTF Board to the DPS&C, OJJ.
    • R.S. 15:951(C): Adds OJJ as an administering entity; removes LCTF Board as an administering entity.
  • Retains core program framework:
    • The Back on Track Youth Pilot Program continues under the governance framework established in R.S. 15:951, with participating state agencies and nonprofit partners.
  • Intermediary shift:
    • Present intermediary: Louisiana Children's Trust Fund Board
    • New intermediary: Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ)

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Engrossed and moved toward third reading as of late April 2026.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the provided text; typically, such amendments take effect on the statute’s effective date or upon passage unless otherwise stated.
  • Interaction with existing reporting: The bill continues to align with the existing data/ reporting framework related to criminal justice savings, just with the administrative change.

Implications and considerations

  • Administrative efficiency and alignment: Moving administration to the OJJ could streamline juvenile-focused implementation, oversight, and funding decisions within DPS&C’s juvenile justice ecosystem.
  • Oversight and accountability: With a new intermediary, reporting lines and governance for Back on Track-related funds may shift, requiring updated oversight agreements and performance metrics.
  • Funding stability: The 15% savings allocation remains in place, but the entity responsible for distributing and managing those funds has changed, which may affect funding cycles, grant opportunities, and programming flexibility.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison of current law vs. HB 1204 language or a brief FAQ for stakeholders (schools, nonprofits, and local jurisdictions) about how the change would operate in practice.

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

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