BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1536
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 1536 (Cardenas)
As Amended August 30, 2001
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |67-6 |(June 5, 2001) |SENATE: |27-12|(September 13, |
| | | | | |2001) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |54-21|(September 13, | | | |
| | |2001) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: PUB. S.
SUMMARY : Establishes a truancy court pilot program within Los
Angeles County which sunsets on January 1, 2004.
The Senate amendments :
1)Recast the provision requiring the truancy court to rotate to
state that truancy court hearings shall be conducted
throughout Los Angeles County and in no instance shall a minor
or his or her family be required to attend a hearing more than
30 miles away from their home and provides that the truancy
court may provide transportation assistance.
2)Require the Juvenile Division of the Los Angeles Superior
Court to submit a report to the Legislature on or before April
15, 2004.
3)Appropriate $750,000 from the General Fund (GF) to implement
the program.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides that any minor who has four or more truancies within
one school year is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile
court and may be judged a ward of the court.
AB 1536
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2)Creates the truancy mediation program to assist in the
resolution of juveniles who are habitually absent from school.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill:
1)Created a pilot program within one division of the juvenile
court in Los Angeles County to hear truancy violations that
would rotate to various locations throughout the county.
2)Provided that the truancy court shall have jurisdiction over
the truant and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s).
3)Provided that cases would be referred to the truancy court
from the School Attendance Review Board and the Los Angeles
Truancy Mediation Program.
4)Provided that the truancy court shall be staffed by a district
attorney, public defender, school district liaison, probation
officer, mental health professional, special education expert,
and a case manager who volunteer to work in the truancy court.
5)Provided that Los Angeles Countywide Criminal Justice
Coordinating Council coordinate the pilot program.
6)Repealed the truancy court on January 1, 2004.
7)Provided for reimbursement from the State Mandates Claims Fund
(Fund).
FISCAL EFFECT : Allows for an appropriation from the GF of up to
$750,000.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "[f]ar too many children are
dropping out of school and entering a life of crime. Deterring
one child from a life of crime saves California $2.3 million."
Please see the policy committee analysis for a detailed
discussion of this bill.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
AB 1536
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"This bill would appropriate $750,000 from the General Fund to
create a truancy court pilot project in Los Angeles County.
Also, the Judicial Council estimates fifteen new positions and
another $1.5 million to administer the programs.
"Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall
of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal
year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General
Fund spending. It is possible however this program could be
funded in part from the $121 million in Juvenile Justice
Prevention funds."
Analysis Prepared by : Fredericka McGee / PUB. S. / (916)
319-3744
FN: 0003906