BILL NUMBER: SB 698	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Negrete McLeod

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act relating to juvenile court schools.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 698, as introduced, Negrete McLeod. Juvenile court schools:
funding.
   Existing law provides for the administration and operation of
public schools in juvenile halls, juvenile homes, day centers,
juvenile ranches, juvenile camps, regional youth educational
facilities, or Orange County youth correctional centers, as
specified. Existing law requires the county board of education to
provide for the administration and operation of juvenile court
schools either by the county superintendent of schools, as specified,
or by contract with the respective governing boards of the
elementary, high school, or unified school district in which the
juvenile court school is located.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to develop an adequate funding formula to address the
specific educational needs of the state's wards who receive
educational services in these juvenile court schools.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) Chapter 175 of the Statutes of 2007 redefined the offenses for
which a ward may be committed to the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities.
   (2) Over the past decade, the wards detained in county facilities
have become a higher-cost population to serve than in previous years.

   (3) The funding allocated for the education of wards under the
jurisdiction of the county juvenile court schools does not adequately
reflect the needs of these students.
   (4) Studies have shown that the educational success of delinquent
and probation youth dramatically reduces recidivism and prevents
entry into the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
   (5) Studies further show that the educational success of
delinquent and probation youth results in tremendous savings to the
state in social services, health care, and unemployment costs.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that
would develop an adequate funding formula to address the specific
educational needs of the state's wards who receive educational
services pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 48645) of
Chapter 4 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code.