BILL NUMBER: SB 1589	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 7, 2006
	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.   programs. 
   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 
 programs  outside of division facilities for high risk or
high need juvenile offenders, taking into account availability and
specified criterion  ,   and for female offenders 
.  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
  The  bill would  further  require the
 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation  
division  to  find an alternative use for  
ensure that the requirements of the division's Safety and Welfare
Remedial Plan are met by outside contracting entities, if any, and
would also require legislative approval for the transfer of  the
Ventura Youth Correctional Facility  to the Division of Adult
Institutions, if contemplated  .  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.    The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:  
   (a) The Legislature believes that the Division of Juvenile Justice
cannot provide female wards with the necessary programs and training
to rehabilitate the majority of those female wards. Further, the
maintenance of the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility as a female
institution deprives the division of needed program capacity.
Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the division seek
to enter into contracts to place female wards with providers outside
of division facilities.  
   (b) If governmental entities can provide gender-specific programs
that are equal to programs that can be provided by qualified private
parties, it is further the intent of the Legislature that preference
be given to placing those females with governmental entities. 
   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.   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  
programs  outside of division facilities for high risk or high
need offenders, if  programming is   those
programs are  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 
 programs  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  programs 
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.
 
   (2) If the Division of Juvenile Justice contracts with outside
entities to provide services to female wards, the division shall
ensure that those contracting entities will meet the requirements of
the division's Safety and Welfare Remedial Plan, dated July 10, 2006,
or any subsequently agreed to remedial plan, particularly the
requirement that females receive gender-specific services equal to
those provided to males under the rehabilitative model.  
   (3) If the Division of Juvenile Justice wishes to transfer control
of the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility to the Division of Adult
Institutions, the Division of Juvenile Justice shall seek the
approval of the Legislature.