BILL NUMBER: AB 1536 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 1, 2001
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Cardenas
FEBRUARY 23, 2001
An act to add and repeal Article 2 (commencing with Section 69540)
of Chapter 5 of Title 8 of the Government Code, relating to superior
courts, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1536, as amended, Cardenas. Truancy.
Existing law provides for making habitually truant minors a ward
of the juvenile court.
This bill would provide that, as a pilot project, one division of
the juvenile court in Los Angeles County selected by the Judicial
Council shall be devoted solely to issues involving truancy, to be
known as the "truancy court," which would have jurisdiction over the
parents or guardians of a truant, as well as the truant, but shall
exercise such jurisdiction only upon referral by specified agencies.
The bill would also specify the staff of the truancy court,
provide for the rotation of the truancy court throughout Los Angeles
County, provide for the coordination of the pilot project by
the Los Angeles Countywide Justice Coordinating Council, and provide
for the repeal of the pilot project on an unspecified date.
The bill would impose a state-mandated local program by imposing
new duties on the juvenile court in Los Angeles County.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions provide a procedure for paying this
reimbursement and require any statute mandating these costs to
specify that reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates
Claims Fund for these costs.
This bill would appropriate $1,500,000 to the State Mandates
Claims Fund to reimburse local agencies and school districts for
costs mandated by the state and incurred by them pursuant to this
act.
Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Article 2 (commencing with Section 69540) is added to
Chapter 5 of Title 8 of the Government Code, to read:
Article 2. Truancy Court Pilot Project
69540. As a pilot project, one division of the juvenile court in
Los Angeles County selected by the Judicial Council shall be devoted
solely to issues involving truancy in violation of Section 601 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code, to be known as the "truancy court."
69541. (a) The truancy court shall have jurisdiction
over the parents or guardians of a truant, as well as the truant, but
shall exercise such jurisdiction only upon referral by the truant's
school, the School Attendance Review Board, and the Los Angeles
County Truancy Mediation Program, following their diligent attempts
to resolve the minor's truancy problem.
(b) The truancy court shall regularly rotate to different juvenile
courts geographically located throughout Los Angeles County to
ensure that all residents of the county have access to the truancy
court without placing an undue hardship on the family.
69542. The truancy court shall be staffed by a team of
professionals, including a district attorney, public defender, school
district liaison, probation officer, mental health professional,
special education expert, and case manager who volunteer for
assignment to the truancy court, to consider and discuss the
circumstances of each case and attempt to reach consensus on the
action plan prior to a court hearing.
69543. The Los Angeles Countywide Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council shall coordinate the pilot project.
69544. This article shall be repealed on ____.
SEC. 2. The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars
($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the
State Mandates Claims Fund to reimburse local agencies and school
districts pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code for costs mandated by
the state and incurred by them pursuant to this act.