BILL NUMBER: AB 2798 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2006
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Goldberg
FEBRUARY 24, 2006
An act to add and repeal Article 24.3 (commencing with
Section 893.5) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code, relating to juveniles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2798, as amended, Goldberg Juveniles : pilot project:
county facilities and programs .
Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors of any
county to, by ordinance, establish juvenile ranches, camps, or
forestry camps, within or without the county, to which persons made
wards of the court may be committed. Existing law also
provides for specified services for juveniles in detention.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation that would provide coordination of services and
increased funding of services for specified purposes, including, but
not limited to, educational, transitional, and training services for
juveniles in detention enact the Probation Youth
Education and Vocational Support Act, which would
establish a 3-year pilot project in Los Angeles County, requiring
these counties to provide specified educational and vocational
services to wards in juvenile ranches, camps, or forestry camps
.
The bill would require the county office of education to complete
a report on the effectiveness of the program, and submit it to the
Legislature by June 30, 2011.
By adding to the duties of county employees in that regard, this
bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.
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: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no
yes .
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be
cited as the "Probation Youth Education and Vocational Support Act."
SEC. 2. Article 24.3 (commencing with Section
893.5) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code , to read:
Article 24.3. Pilot Project: Probation Youth Education
and Vocational Support
893.5. There is hereby established a three-year pilot project in
Los Angeles County. The county shall provide comprehensive,
integrated services to selected wards from 15 to 18 years of age,
inclusive, in juvenile ranches, camps, and forestry camps, including
all of the following:
(a) A standards-based vocational or career technical education
program, integrated with or in addition to the existing academic
program in the facility.
(b) Tutor or paraeducator services to support work-related and
academic literacy and successful implementation of the vocational
program.
(c) An educational or vocational counseling program that addresses
learning disabilities and provides, while a ward is in detention,
intensive support and prerelease planning services.
(d) Transition, education advocacy, and case management services
to provide systems navigation, appropriate school or vocational
training program placement, and referrals for housing, mental health
services, and jobs for each ward for a minimum of one full year after
release.
(e) Mental health services by licensed providers for the duration
of the project and appropriate training for project staff to address
the mental health needs of participants.
893.7. The county office of education shall, with the assistance
of an independent consultant with expertise in juvenile justice
programs, complete a report that evaluates the effectiveness,
including cost effectiveness, of the pilot program. The report shall
be submitted to the Legislature by June 30, 2011. Outcome measures
shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Completion of the vocational or career technical education
program in the camp or residential facility.
(b) Provision of pre-release planning and post-release services.
(c) Enrollment and retention in post-release education or training
programs or appropriate employment, or both, for a period of at
least 6 months.
(d) Rate of utilization of mental health services pre- and
post-release and their impact on stability of residence, education,
and employment.
(e) Provision of case management and related post-release services
and their impact on stability of residence, education, and
employment.
(f) Rate of recidivism and related cost savings or economic
benefits, if any.
893.9. This article shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2010, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2010, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 3. 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.
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would provide coordination of services and
increased funding of services for the following purposes related to
juveniles:
(a) Reducing the long-term public and private sector costs of
recidivism, academic failure, and inability to obtain and retain
jobs.
(b) Educational services in juvenile court schools, including, but
not limited to, tutoring, counseling, and other learning supports.
(c) Transition services provided by and between county offices of
education and local school districts.
(d) Educational services provided by school districts to youth
enrolling after release from probation camp or similar facilities.
(e) Vocational training opportunities to be provided in probation
camps and similar facilities.