BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2798
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Date of Hearing: May 10, 2006
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Judy Chu, Chair
AB 2798 (Goldberg) - As Amended: April 17, 2006
Policy Committee: Public
SafetyVote: 4-0
Education 11-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY
This bill creates a three-year pilot project in Los Angeles,
Alameda and Sacramento Counties to provide comprehensive
integrated services to wards from 15 to 18 years of age in
juvenile ranches, camps, and forestry camps. The pilot project
shall include all of the following:
1)A standards-based vocational or career technical education
program, integrated with or in addition to the existing
academic program in the facility.
2)Tutor or paraeducator services to support work-related and
academic literacy and successful implementation of the
vocational program.
3)An educational or vocational counseling program that addresses
learning disabilities and provides intensive support and
prerelease planning services.
4)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.
5)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.
FISCAL EFFECT
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Significant GF costs, well in excess of $10 million for the life
of the pilot, to fund the state-mandated services envisioned in
this measure. Educational, vocational and counseling programs
for county wards are currently the fiscal responsibility of
counties, through County Offices of Education.
Information from one of the sponsors, the L.A. County Office of
Education, estimates a cost of $9 million over the life of the
pilot, but these figures are likely low, considering the range
of educational, vocational, counseling and mental health
services referenced in the bill and considering the bill
provides no limitation on the number of participants, no process
for selecting or targeting wards, no spending caps, no
anti-supplantation language, and no differentiation between
existing programs and the pilot project.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The intent of this bill is to support enhanced
educational and vocational programs and to reduce recidivism
among youth in selected county-operated probation camps and
ranches. According to the author, the pilot "will provide
multiple pathways to success by ensuring access to appropriate
academic programs and comprehensive, integrated services that
would prepare youth for meaningful reentry into their
communities. 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."
The Los Angeles County Education Foundation states, "This bill
responds to feedback we have received from employers,
educators, community workers, and probation staff regarding
the need for employment preparation, tutoring, counseling,
mental health services, and post-release support. In proposing
this pilot program, we hope to show positive and measurable
outcomes that will help to shape future legislation that will
save public funds in the long term and reduce the human costs
of crime and recidivism."
2)Background . The average daily population of county juvenile
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halls, camps and ranches statewide is 13,500. The camps and
ranches portion of this total is 4,000. Wards age 15 to 17
account for 78% of the camp and ranch population. L.A. County
accounts for 32% of the state total (ranking first),
Sacramento County for 4.5% (ranking fourth), and Alameda
County for 3.2% (ranking ninth).
The average length-of-stay for camp and ranch wards is about
four months.
3)Concerns . This bill needs additional development, particularly
in terms of ward selection and focus, fiscal caps, county
financial participation and non-supplantation, programming
priorities and responsibilities, and measurable performance
outcome criteria.
The author's office and sponsor have agreed to work on
addressing these concerns while the bill is on the Suspense
File.
Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081