BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2798
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 26, 2006
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Jackie Goldberg, Chair
AB 2798 (Goldberg) - As Amended: April 17, 2006
SUBJECT : Probation Youth Education and Vocational Support Act
SUMMARY : Enacts the Probation Youth Education and Vocational
Support Act for the counties of Los Angeles, Alameda and
Sacramento. Specifically, this bill :
1)Establishes a three-year pilot project in Los Angeles, Alameda
and Sacramento Counties and provides comprehensive integrated
services to selected wards ages 15-18 in juvenile ranches,
camps, and forestry camps.
2)Requires the pilot project include 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 mental health needs for
participants.
3)Requires the county office of education, with the assistance
of an independent consultant with expertise in juvenile
justice programs, to complete a report that evaluates the
effectiveness, including cost effectiveness of the pilot
program.
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4)Requires the pilot program be submitted to the Legislature by
June 30, 2011.
5)Requires the outcomes to be measured to include, but not be
limited to, all of 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 six 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.
6)Repeals the pilot project as of January 1, 2010, unless a
later enacted statute deletes or extends that date.
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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS :
Background and need for the bill : According to information
provided by the author, "About 90,000 children and youth are in
out-of-home placements statewide. About 10,000 of these are
supervised by county probation departments, and an additional
4,000 juveniles are in Division of Juvenile Justice (formerly
the California Youth Authority) facilities. On average,
detained juveniles are in county probation facilities for 20
weeks. Schooling during this period is usually provided through
the county office of education. It is typical for students in
this setting to read at or below the fifth grade level. At any
given time, between 23% to 37% are special education students,
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compared with 10% in the general student population. Up to 40%
of those in the system never earn a high school diploma or GED;
the number is expected to rise with administration of the
California High School High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)."
"Existing resources (such as ROCP) for vocational training do
not serve or are insufficient to serve youth in these settings.
Such training- in conjunction with academics- offers an
alternate life trajectory, including the ability to support
dependents. However, for these juveniles to succeed, increased
vocational and academic literacy support is needed. The
statewide shortage of high school counselors is most keenly felt
in camp settings. This bill increases counseling services to
provide intensive support and pre-release planning, including
matriculation into schools and/or advanced vocational programs.
Existing law provides for probation field services and some
after school program support for juvenile offenders. Research
indicates that intensive post-release follow up services reduce
crime, prevent homelessness and improve
school/training/employment outcomes. This bill supports the
work of law enforcement, including probation, by providing one
year of post-release services by school/community liaisons or
similar specialists. Chances for success are improved by
increased access to pre-and post-release mental health services
currently inadequate to meet the needs of juveniles with mental
health problems."
Juvenile camps and detention facilities : According to the Los
Angeles County Education Foundation, "Youth under 18 who have
not completed high school attend class. Although they can earn
credits in core subjects required to graduate, teachers must
focus the largest portion of their time on basic reading,
writing, and math skills. Like all students they must
eventually pass CAHSEE to get their high school diplomas.
Teachers working in the system, and those who will work with
these students after release, must focus on this objective.
Some students have the basic skills and academic credits
necessary to pass the CAHSEE and earn a diploma, either in a
traditional high school (after release) or in a county or
alternative education program. They are able to prepare for
college with a four-year degree as a goal. However many of the
students function at or below the fifth grade level in the tenth
or eleventh grade will be unable to attain these academic goals
because they will be unable to pass the CAHSEE or meet
graduation requirements that continue to be raised."
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Author's statement : According to the author, "The purpose of
this bill is to support education and vocational programs as
well as reduce recidivism among youth in selected
county-operated probation camps and similar facilities. This
bill seeks to ensure that every youth, regardless of ability,
has intensive guidance counseling and academic support while at
the same time preparing for their release and acquiring the
assistance that they need to achieve the maximum level of
achievement, mental health, and self-sufficiency."
This bill was heard in and passed the Assembly Public Safety
Committee on April 18, 2006.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Association of Community Human Service Agencies
Los Angeles County Education Foundation
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Maria's Italian Kitchen
Toberman Settlement House
Youth Law Center
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087