EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 46

WHEREAS,  Congress enacted the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act in 1974, and amended the Act in 2002, in order to support state and local programs that prevent juvenile involvement in delinquent behavior; to assist state and local government in promoting public safety by encouraging accountability for acts of juvenile delinquency; and to assist state and local governments in addressing juvenile crime through the provisions of technical assistance, research, training, evaluation, and the dissemination of information on effective programs for combating juvenile delinquency; and

WHEREAS, Title II, Part B, of the JJDP Act authorizes the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and its Administrator to make grants to States and units of local government or combinations thereof to assist them in planning, establishing, operating, coordinating and evaluating projects, directly or through grants and contracts with public and private agencies for the development of more effective education, training, research, prevention, diversion, treatment and rehabilitation programs in the area of juvenile delinquency and programs  to improve the juvenile justice system; and

WHEREAS, the Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety (LETS) Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is the State of Alabama’s juvenile justice planning agency and has sole responsibility for supervising the preparation and administration of the State’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Plan under the JJDP Act; and

WHEREAS, 42 U.S.C. § 5633(a)(3) requires that any state receiving money under the JJDP Act create an advisory group appointed by the chief executive officer of the state to advise the state planning agency on juvenile justice and delinquency prevention matters and the award of grants to state and local governments, private nonprofit agencies, and colleges and universities.

NOW, THEREFORE, based upon these considerations, and for other good and valid reasons related thereto, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of Alabama, do hereby establish and confirm the authority of LETS within ADECA as Alabama’s juvenile justice planning agency and establish and confirm an Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (henceforth called the “Alabama State Advisory Group”) to advise and make recommendations on matters relating to juvenile justice and delinquency prevention and the award of state grants.

BE IT ORDERED, that the LETS Division of ADECA is designated as Alabama’s juvenile justice and delinquency prevention planning agency charged as the sole agency for supervising the preparation and administration of the State’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Plan.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the Alabama State Advisory Group is created, authorized and confirmed to serve as the advisory body charged with making recommendations on juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, including (i) the development and review of the State’s federally required three-year plan and annual updates; (ii) monitoring of the State’s compliance with the JJDP Act; and (iii) other related and necessary conduct to fulfill the purposes of the JJDP Act and this Executive Order.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the appointment of all current members of the Alabama State Advisory Group is hereby confirmed for their remaining respective terms, and further, that all members later appointed shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor in compliance with the JJDP Act.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, the Director of ADECA, or his or her designee, shall serve as an ex officio member of the Advisory Group and shall appoint a chairperson, who shall not be a government employee and who shall preside at all meetings.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the Alabama State Advisory Group shall comply with all other requirements applicable to the Advisory Group as set forth in the JJDP Act and specifically 42 U.S.C. § 5633(a)(3) of the JJDP Act, as amended from time to time.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the Alabama State Advisory Group members shall not be entitled to compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties at the same rate as State employees.  Such reimbursement shall be expended from funds allocated for Alabama State Advisory Group per diem and fees.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the LETS Division of ADECA and the Alabama State Advisory Group are hereby granted such authority as may be necessary to implement all provisions of this Executive Order in accordance with the aforesaid Federal Act and all other prevailing Federal and State laws and regulations.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that Executive Order No. 5, dated March 30, 1983, and any other prior related Executive Orders, are hereby rescinded and superseded by this Executive Order, which shall remain in effect and force until such time as it is modified or rescinded by the Governor.

DONE AND ORDERED this 7th day of July, 2014.

Robert Bentley
Governor

Attested
Jim Bennett
Secretary of State