BILL NUMBER: SB 1589	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 21, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 17, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Romero

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2006

   An act to add Section 1756.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to the Division of Juvenile Justice.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1589, as amended, Romero  Division of Juvenile Justice:
specialized programming.
   The Division of Juvenile Justice is vested with all the powers,
functions, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and
jurisdiction of the former Youth Authority. The Division of Juvenile
Justice consists of the Division of Juvenile Facilities, the Division
of Juvenile Programs, and the Division of Juvenile Parole Operations
under the Chief Deputy of Juvenile Justice, each headed by a chief
who is appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation.

   This bill would require the Division of Juvenile Justice to
explore options to provide specialized programming outside of
division facilities for high risk or high need juvenile offenders,
taking into account availability and specified criterion. The bill
would further require the division to give priority for the placement
of female offenders with governmental agencies or, if unavailable,
to report alternatives to the Legislature at that time. The bill
would also require the division to transfer all female offenders out
of division facilities as expediently as possible.  Upon that
transfer, the bill would require the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation to find an alternative use for the Ventura Youth
Correctional Facility. If used to house adult inmates, the bill would
then require the department to implement an honor yard program at
that facility, as specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 1756.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   1756.5.  (a) The Division of Juvenile Justice shall explore
options to provide specialized programming outside of division
facilities for high risk or high need offenders, if programming is
available. Specialized programs for these offenders shall take into
account commitment offenses, delinquency history, age, gender,
medical and mental health condition, risk levels, and any other
commitment criteria.
   (b) The Division of Juvenile Justice may also consider changes
with respect to eligibility, age, jurisdiction, or length of
confinement in order to ensure quality programming within division
facilities.
   (c)  (1)    Given the small number of female
offenders and their specialized needs, the Division of Juvenile
Justice shall explore options to provide programming for female
offenders outside of division facilities. In considering these
options, the division shall give priority for the placement of female
offenders to governmental agencies or, if those options are not
appropriate or available for the placement of female offenders, the
division shall report any and all other alternatives to the
Legislature at that time. The division shall transfer all female
offenders out of division facilities as expediently as possible.

   (2) Once the female offender population has been transferred out
of division facilities, the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation shall find an alternative use for the Ventura Youth
Correctional Facility. Options shall include housing male wards of
the Division of Juvenile Justice or low level offenders from the
adult inmate population.  If adult inmates are housed in this
facility, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall
implement an honor yard program, such as exists at the California
State Prison, Los Angeles County, in Lancaster, drawing on the
policies set forth in its honor yard operational procedures.