PLACEMENT IN DEPARTMENT FACILITIES.

(a) The department may not assign a child younger than 15 years of age to the same correctional facility dormitory as a person who is at least 17 years of age unless the department determines that the placement is necessary to ensure the safety of children in the custody of the department. This subsection does not apply to a dormitory that is used exclusively for short-term assessment and orientation purposes.

(b) The board by rule shall adopt scheduling, housing, and placement procedures for the purpose of protecting vulnerable children in the custody of the department. The procedures must address the age, physical condition, and treatment needs of a child as well as any other relevant factor.

(c) The department shall consider the proximity of the residence of a child's family in determining the appropriate department facility in which to place a child.

(d) The department shall place a child in the most restrictive setting appropriate as the child awaits an adjudication or prosecution for conduct constituting a felony of the first or second degree while in the department's custody. The board by rule shall establish placement procedures that guide the department in determining the most appropriate setting for the child based on rehabilitative needs while preserving due process rights.