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 M 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. Jj Transportation Engineering Civil Engineering Land Surveying Land Planning GONZALEZ-STRENGTH GONZALEZ- GONZALEZ STRENGTH & ASSOCIATES, INC. Ensuring Excellence In Site Civil Engineering and Land Surveying since 1957 Go o d p peo ople p l e d do oi ing g G o o d wo ork r k f fo o r G o o d p peo o p l e 2176 PARKWAY LAKE DRIVE HOOVER, AL 35244 PH: 205.942.2486 www.gonzalez-strength.com 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