A bill that passed along party lines in the Iowa Democrat Senate calls for an establishment of a state juvenile home for delinquent girls.

District 24 State Senator Jerry Behn did not agree with the bill and instead believes what Governor Terry Branstad did when he shut down the state’s then only juvenile home for girls in Toledo this January was the appropriate choice.

He argues that when the governor was given information about the facility and the allegations about the treatment of the female minors, Behn believes the governor acted in the correct manner while keeping the safety of the girls in mind.

“In order to get the best care for those young ladies something needed to be done.  Many of them were not what you would refer to as a safety concern for hurting other people.”

Behn states that he believes they don’t need to have another state-run female juvenile home because adequate services already exist.

“There are already places that can handle these individuals.  There are private places around and there are other services that are available that look to me like they can handle it right now.  I think it would be a step backwards to try and reopen that facility.”

The bill passed 26-22 last week and has been discussed in the House this week.