Shusterman’s third Juvenile Justice bill passes House
Rep. Melissa Shusterman July 14, 2025 | 3:14 PM
HARRISBURG, July 14 – State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester, announced that her third juvenile justice piece of legislation, H.B. 1573, has passed the state House of Representatives.
House Bill 1573 provides for a variety clarifications and revisions regarding the Commonwealth’s juvenile detention system. These improvements include establishment of a data inventory.
The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force was formed in 2019 and after 28 roundtables with nearly 450 participants, a final report was issued in 2021. The task force was charged with delivering data-driven policy recommendations that met four goals: protecting public safety, ensuring accountability, achieving taxpayer savings and sustained system reinvestment, and improving outcomes for youth, families and communities. The Task Force made a total of 35 recommendations for the legislature to act upon that would protect children in the state.
Shusterman’s three juvenile justice bills will make improvements to the Commonwealth’s juvenile detention system. The other two bills were passed by the House last week. House Bill 1576 will require the Department of Human Services to reimburse counties for 50% of certain costs of services provided to delinquent children, including but not limited to, medical treatments, transportation and the appointment of a guardian ad litem or counsel – also known as indigent defense. House Bill 1577 will ensure that safe and humane institutional practices are in place for children who may face restrictive procedures, such as restraints, when in custody or incarcerated.
“The task force was a thorough process with an outcome of policy recommendations the legislature has been slow to address,” said Shusterman. “We must act without any further delay to ensure we are protecting the children of our Commonwealth who go through our juvenile detention system. Our children – all of our children – are our future, and we must invest in these children to ensure they are equipped to have successful futures.”
All three bills will now await consideration by the Senate.