BJCF Legislative Path Streamlined

Members of the Beloit Juvenile Correctional Facility Task Force are heading back to Topeka on February 11th to testify in support of Senate Bill 357. The bill has already been passed by the full Kansas Senate. Now it is being heard by the House Local Government Committee.
A duplicate bill HB 2450 that originated in the House of Representatives has been put on hold. It was found that having the duplicate bill was not necessary as the Senate quickly moved SB 357 through to the House for consideration.
Part of the reason for the quick action by the Legislature is the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority is currently paying for the utilities and a full-time staff person to keep the former BJCF maintained and they are running short of money.
What will happen if SB 357 is passed by the House? It will become official once the bill is published. Then the work will begin to transfer the property to the City of Beloit.
In the meantime representatives from the City of Beloit, Mitchell County Commissioners, NCK Technical College, USD 273, the Early Learning Center and several other organizations have been working together to develop plans for how the facilities can be utilized to benefit the community. And to plan how the expenses for utilities and maintenance will be shared.
Admittedly the legislative action on the communities request to receive the BJCF property is moving faster than expected. But with all parties working together the community can develop plans to receive and utilize the facility, secure jobs that are already asscociated with the Early Learning Center and Mitchell County Partnership for Children, and create several other jobs associated with new uses for the buildings and property.