As Kentucky House committee moves forward a bill that would establish a special mental health juvenile detention facility for “high acuity” youth, Sen. Danny Carroll emphasized its importance, calling it a critical step. The bill, Senate Bill 252, has already passed the Senate and is now awaiting full House consideration.
However, time is running out as Wednesday marks the 57th day of the 60-day legislative session. The legislature must pass bills by Friday in order to preserve their right to override a potential veto by Gov. Andy Beshear. Under Carroll’s bill, Kentucky would begin operating two female detention centers by Feb. 1, 2026 – one in Central Kentucky and one in the western part of the state. A third facility could be built if the first two reach capacity.
In addition to this, Kentucky would also build a 16-bed acute mental health facility designed to house juveniles in need of specialized treatment for aggression, violence, or property destruction. The Department of Juvenile Justice would own and staff the facility while partnering with Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide appropriate mental health treatment.
The General Assembly’s two-year budget is not yet final but the Senate budget included funding for each of the female-only facilities and the mental health facility. Senator Carroll had requested more funding for the mental health facility but the final budget allocation remains uncertain. He stressed
