BILL NUMBER: AB 1536	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 31, 2001
	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. 
 courts. 



	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  
January 1, 2004  .
   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.   
  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund
to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide
and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed
$1,000,000.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.  
   Vote:   2/3   majority  .
Appropriation:   yes   no  .  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  ____ 
 January 1, 2004  .  
  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.   
  SEC. 2.  Notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if
the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains
costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and
school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7
(commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
Government Code.  If the statewide cost of the claim for
reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000),
reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.