BILL NUMBER: AB 1122	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 16, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members John A. Pérez and Ammiano
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Beall, Bradford, and Ma)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to add  and repeal  Section 1916  to
  of  the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating
to juveniles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1122, as amended, John A. Pérez. Juvenile offenders: tattoo
removal.
   Existing law establishes a pilot program requiring the Division of
Juvenile Facilities of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation to purchase 2 medical laser devices for the removal of
tattoos, as specified, from eligible participants who are at-risk
youth, ex-offenders, and current or former gang members, as
specified.
   This bill would additionally establish the California Voluntary
Tattoo Removal Program. The bill would provide that, to the extent
funds are  available   appropriated  , the
California Emergency Management Agency  may  administer the
program. The bill would require that the program be designed to serve
individuals between 14 and 24 years of age, who are in the custody
of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or county
probation departments, who are on parole or probation, or who are in
a community-based organization serving at-risk youth, through a
competitive grant process, as specified. The bill would describe who
may apply for grants, and specify the criteria for program
participants.  The bill would state findings and declarations
of the Legislature in this regard.  
   The bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2017. 
   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 1916 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read: 
   1916.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (1) Exoffenders and former gang members seeking to restart their
lives and successfully reintegrate into mainstream society or the
professional workplace are often precluded from doing so because of
their visible tattoos.
   (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the establishment of
the California Voluntary Tattoo Removal Program aid these individuals
in their quest to rehabilitate their lives and get back on the right
track.
   (b) (1) The California Voluntary Tattoo Removal Program is

    1916.   (a)     The California
Voluntary Tattoo Removal Program is  hereby established.

   (2) 
    (b)  To the extent that funds are  available
  appropriated  for this purpose, the California
Emergency Management Agency  shall   may 
administer the program. 
   (3) 
    (c)  The program shall be designed to serve individuals
between 14 and 24 years of age, who are in the custody of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or county probation
departments, who are on parole or probation, or who are in a
community-based organization serving at-risk youth. 
   (c) (1) 
    (d)  The agency shall award grants in a competitive
manner and on a geographically diverse basis, serving both northern
and southern California. 
   (2) 
    (e)  The Division of Juvenile Facilities of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, county probation
departments, community-based organizations, and relevant service
providers may apply for the grants authorized by this section. 
   (f) Funds appropriated for purposes of this section shall be
limited to federal funds.  
   (d) (1) 
    (g)  Tattoo removals shall be performed by licensed
clinicians who, to the extent feasible, provide their services at a
discounted rate, or free of charge. 
   (2) 
    (h)  Grantees shall serve individuals who have 
gang-related  tattoos that are visible in a professional
environment and who are recommended for the program by Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation representatives, parole agents, county
probation officers, community-based organizations, or service
providers. 
   (e) 
    (i)  Individuals who have gang-related  or other
 tattoos that may be considered unprofessional and are
visible in a professional work environment, who meet the criteria of
 paragraph (3) of  subdivision  (b)
  (c)  , and who meet any of the following criteria
may be eligible for participation in the program:
   (1) Are actively pursuing secondary or postsecondary education.
   (2) Are seeking employment or participating in workforce training
programs.
   (3) Are scheduled for an upcoming job interview or job placement.
   (4) Are participating in a community or public service activity.

   (f) 
    (j)  Use of funding by grantees  may include,
but shall not be limited to,   shall be limited to 
the following: 
   (1) The removal of gang-related tattoos.  
   (1)
    (2)  Maintenance or repair of tattoo removal medical
devices. 
   (2) 
    (3)  Contracting with licensed private providers to
offer the tattoo removal service. 
   (3) Any necessary costs associated with operating a tattoo removal
program.  
   (g) 
    (k)  Grantees may also seek  state, federal,
  additional federal  or private funding to execute
the provisions of this section, and use those funds to supplement
funding received through the program. 
   (l) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends
that date.