The Senate this afternoon unanimously passed a juvenile corrections bill that’s largely in line with the version the Assembly passed last month reviving a bill that had been stalled over Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s objections to several provisions as well as the process.

There was no debate before the Senate voted 32-0 to approve a substitute amendment that would close Lincoln Hills youth prison by Jan. 1, 2021, and require in its place new DOC type 1 facilities for the most serious youth offenders, along with several county-run facilities for less serious offenders.

The $80 million plan is nearly identical to the amended Assembly version, with a couple minor changes. Unlike the Assembly version, it would require the Joint Finance Committee to approve funding for DOC type 1 facilities and provisions. The substitute amendment also makes slight changes to the study committee charged with making recommendations for new facilities.

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