Senate Bill No. 970

Introduced by Senator Yee

(Coauthors: Senators Evans and Leno)

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Bradford)

February 10, 2014

An act to amend Section 230 of, to amend, repeal, and add Sections 225, 226, and 229 of, and to add Section 208.3 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to juveniles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 970, as introduced, Yee. Juveniles: solitary confinement.

(1) Existing law permits minors who are detained in juvenile hall for habitual disobedience, truancy, or curfew violation to be held in the same facility as minors who are detained for violating any law or ordinance defining a crime, if they do not come or remain in contact with each other. Existing law also permits the detention of minors in jails and other secure facilities for the confinement of adults if the minors do not come or remain in contact with confined adults and other specified conditions are met.

Existing law authorizes the involuntary detention for a period of 72 hours for evaluation of persons, including minors, who are dangerous to self or others, or gravely disabled, as defined.

This bill, commencing January 1, 2016, would generally prohibit a minor or ward who is detained in, or sentenced to, any juvenile facility or other secure state or local facility from being subject to solitary confinement, as defined, unless the minor or ward poses an immediate and substantial risk of harm to others or to the security of the facility, and all other less-restrictive options have been exhausted. The bill would permit the minor or ward to be held in solitary confinement only in accordance with specified guidelines, including that the minor or ward be held in solitary confinement for only the minimum time required to address the safety risk and for a period that does not compromise the mental and physical health of the minor or ward. The bill would prohibit a minor or ward from being placed in solitary confinement for more than 24 hours in a one-week period without obtaining specified written approval. The bill would require each local and state juvenile facility to document the usage of solitary confinement, as prescribed. By increasing the duties of local juvenile facilities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(2) Existing law establishes a juvenile justice commission in each county, but authorizes the boards of supervisors of 2 or more adjacent counties to agree to establish a regional juvenile justice commission in lieu of a county juvenile justice commission. Existing law specifies the membership of these commissions, including that 2 or more members shall be persons who are 14 to 21 years of age, inclusive, and that a regional juvenile justice commission shall consist of not less than 8 citizens. Existing law requires a juvenile justice commission to annually inspect any jail or lockup that, in the preceding calendar year, was used for confinement for more than 24 hours of any minor, and to report the results of the inspection, together with its recommendations based thereon, in writing, to the juvenile court and the Board of State and Community Corrections. Existing law authorizes a commission to recommend to any person charged with the administration of the Juvenile Court Law those changes as it has concluded, after investigation, will be beneficial, and to publicize its recommendations.

This bill, commencing January 1, 2016, would require that 2 or more members of these commissions be parents or guardians of previously or currently incarcerated youth, and one member be a licensed social worker, licensed psychiatrist, or licensed psychologist with expertise in adolescent development, if there are available persons who meet those requirements, as specified. The bill also would increase from 8 to 10 the minimum number of members of a regional juvenile justice commission. The bill would authorize a juvenile justice commission to annually inspect any facility within the county other than a jail or lockup that, in the preceding calendar year, was used for confinement for more than 24 hours of any minor. The bill would authorize a juvenile justice commission to review the records of the jail, lockup, or other facility as to the use of solitary confinement, and to additionally report the results of the inspection, together with its recommendations based thereon, in writing, to the county board of supervisors. The bill would authorize the commission to present its report at an annual hearing on the condition of juvenile justice corrections as part of a regularly scheduled public meeting of the county board of supervisors, and to publish the report on the county government’s Internet Web site. The bill would also authorize a commission to publicize its recommendations made to any person charged with administration of the Juvenile Court Law on the county government’s Internet Web site.

(3)  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 208.3 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:

208.3.  

(a) For purposes of this section, the following
definitions shall apply:

(1) “Minor” means a person who is any of the following:

(A) A person under 18 years of age.

(B) A person under the maximum age of juvenile court
jurisdiction who is confined in a juvenile facility.

(C) A person under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities.

(2) “Solitary confinement” means the placement of an
incarcerated person, or a person detained as a result of a juvenile
petition, in a locked room or cell with minimal or no contact with
persons other than guards, correctional facility staff, and attorneys.
Solitary confinement does not include confinement of a ward or
minor in a single-person room or cell for brief periods of
locked-room confinement necessary for institutional operations,
including, but not limited to, shift changes, showering, and unit
movements.

(3) “Ward” means a person who has been declared a ward of
the court pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 602.

(b) A minor or ward who is detained in, or sentenced to, any
juvenile facility or other secure state or local facility shall not be
subject to solitary confinement, unless the minor or ward poses an
immediate and substantial risk of harm to others or to the security
of the facility, and all other less-restrictive options have been
exhausted. A minor or ward may be held in solitary confinement
only in accordance with all of the following guidelines:

(1) The minor or ward shall be held in solitary confinement for
only the minimum time required to address the safety risk and for
a period that does not compromise the mental and physical health
of the minor or ward.

(2) The minor or ward shall not be placed in solitary
confinement for more than 24 hours in a one-week period without
the written approval of the Chief of the Division of Juvenile
Facilities, or his or her designee, or the chief probation officer, or
his or her designee, which shall be required for each 24-hour period
thereafter.

(c) Solitary confinement shall not be used for the purposes of
discipline, punishment, coercion, convenience, or retaliation by
staff.

(d) Each local and state juvenile facility shall document the
usage of solitary confinement, including the dates and duration of
each occurrence, the reason for placement in solitary confinement,
and the race, age, and gender of the minor or ward placed in solitary
confinement. If any health or mental health clinical evaluations
were performed, these records shall affirmatively certify that the
results of those evaluations were considered in any decision to
place a minor or ward in solitary confinement or to continue
solitary confinement. These records shall be available for public
inspection pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter
3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of
the Government Code).

(e) This section is not intended to limit the use of single-person
rooms or cells for the housing of minors or wards in juvenile
facilities.

(f) This section does not apply to minors or wards in court
holding facilities or adult facilities.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with
any law providing greater or additional protections to minors or
wards.

(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

SEC. 2.  

Section 225 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

225.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert In each county there shall be a juvenile justice
commission consisting of not less than 7 and no more than 15
citizens. Two or more begin delete of the end delete members shall be persons who are
begin delete between end delete 14 begin delete and end delete begin insert to end insert 21 years of age, begin delete provided end delete begin insert inclusive, if end insert there are
available persons begin delete between end delete 14 begin delete and end delete begin insert to end insert 21 years of begin delete age end delete begin insert age, inclusive, end insert
who are able to carry out the duties of a commission member in a
manner satisfactory to the appointing authority. Each person
serving as a member of a probation committee immediately prior
to September 15, 1961, shall be a member of the juvenile justice
commission and shall continue to serve as such until begin delete such time as end delete
his or her term of appointment as a member of the probation
committee would have expired under any prior begin delete provision of end delete law.
Upon a vacancy occurring in the membership of the begin delete commission end delete
begin insert commission, end insert and upon the expiration of the term of office of any
member, a successor shall be appointed by the presiding judge of
the superior court with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile
court or, in a county having more than one judge of the juvenile
court, with the concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile
court for a term of four years. begin delete When end delete begin insert If end insert a vacancy occurs for any
reason other than the expiration of a term of office, the appointee
to fill begin delete such end delete begin insert the end insert vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of
his or her predecessor.

begin insert (b) end insert begin insert   end insert Appointments may be made by the presiding judge of the
superior court, in the same manner designated in this section for
the filling of vacancies, to increase the membership of a
commission to the maximum of 15 begin insert members end insert in any county begin delete which end delete
begin insert that end insert has a commission with a membership of less than 15 members.

begin insert (c) end insert begin insert   end insert In any county in which the membership of the commission,
on the effective date of amendments to this section enacted at the
1971 Regular Session of the Legislature, exceeds the maximum
number permitted by this section, no additional appointments shall
be made until the number of commissioners is less than the
maximum number permitted by this section. In any case, such
county’s commission membership shall, on or after January 1,
1974, be no greater than the maximum begin insert number end insert permitted by this
section.

begin insert

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

end insert

SEC. 3.  

Section 225 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:

225.  

(a) In each county there shall be a juvenile justice
commission consisting of not less than 7 and no more than 15
citizens. Two or more members shall be persons who are 14 to 21
years of age, inclusive, if there are available persons 14 to 21 years
of age, inclusive, who are able to carry out the duties of a
commission member in a manner satisfactory to the appointing
authority. Two or more members shall be parents or guardians of
previously or currently incarcerated youth, if there are available
persons who meet this requirement who are able to carry out the
duties of a commission member in a manner satisfactory to the
appointing authority. One member shall be a licensed social
worker, licensed psychiatrist, or licensed psychologist with
expertise in adolescent development, if there is an available person
who meets this requirement who is able to carry out the duties of
a commission member in a manner satisfactory to the appointing
authority. Each person serving as a member of a probation
committee immediately prior to September 15, 1961, shall be a
member of the juvenile justice commission and shall continue to
serve as such until his or her term of appointment as a member of
the probation committee would have expired under any prior law.
Upon a vacancy occurring in the membership of the commission,
and upon the expiration of the term of office of any member, a
successor shall be appointed by the presiding judge of the superior
court with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile court or,
in a county having more than one judge of the juvenile court, with
the concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile court for a
term of four years. If a vacancy occurs for any reason other than
the expiration of a term of office, the appointee to fill the vacancy
shall hold office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.

(b) Appointments may be made by the presiding judge of the
superior court, in the same manner designated in this section for
the filling of vacancies, to increase the membership of a
commission to the maximum of 15 members in any county that
has a commission with a membership of less than 15 members.

(c) In any county in which the membership of the commission,
on the effective date of amendments to this section enacted at the
1971 Regular Session of the Legislature, exceeds the maximum
number permitted by this section, no additional appointments shall
be made until the number of commissioners is less than the
maximum number permitted by this section. In any case, that
county’s commission membership shall, on or after January 1,
1974, be no greater than the maximum number permitted by this
section.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

SEC. 4.  

Section 226 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

226.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert In lieu of county juvenile justice commissions, the
boards of supervisors of two or more adjacent counties may agree
to establish a regional juvenile justice commission consisting of
not less than eight citizens, and having a sufficient number of
members so that their appointment may be equally apportioned
between the participating counties. Two or more begin delete of the end delete members
shall be persons who are begin delete between end delete 14 begin delete and end delete begin insert to end insert 21 years of age,
begin delete provided end delete begin insert inclusive, if end insert there are available persons begin delete between end delete 14 begin delete and end delete
begin insert to end insert 21 years of begin delete age end delete begin insert age, inclusive, end insert who are able to carry out the
duties of a commission member in a manner satisfactory to the
appointing authority. The presiding judge of the superior court
with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile court or, in a
county having more than one judge of the juvenile court, with the
concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile court of each
of the participating counties shall appoint an equal number of
members to the regional justice commission and begin delete they end delete begin insert the members end insert
shall hold office for a term of four years. Of those first appointed,
however, if the number begin insert of members end insert appointed begin delete be end delete begin insert is end insert an even
number, begin delete half end delete begin insert one-half end insert shall serve for a term of two years and begin delete half end delete
begin insert one-half end insert shall serve for a term of four begin delete years and if end delete begin insert years. If end insert the
number of members first appointed begin delete be end delete begin insert is end insert an odd number, the greater
number nearest begin delete half end delete begin insert one-half end insert shall serve for a term of two years
and the remainder shall serve for a term of four years. The
respective terms of the members first appointed shall be determined
by lot as soon as possible after their appointment. Upon a vacancy
occurring in the membership of the begin delete commission end delete begin insert commission, end insert and
upon the expiration of the term of office of any member, a
successor shall be appointed by the presiding judge of the superior
court with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile court or,
in a county having more than one judge of the juvenile court, with
the concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile court of the
county begin delete which end delete begin insert that end insert originally appointed begin delete such end delete begin insert the end insert vacating or retiring
member. begin delete When end delete begin insert If end insert a vacancy occurs for any reason other than the
expiration of a term of office, the appointee shall hold office for
the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.

begin insert

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

end insert

SEC. 5.  

Section 226 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:

226.  

(a) In lieu of county juvenile justice commissions, the
boards of supervisors of two or more adjacent counties may agree
to establish a regional juvenile justice commission consisting of
not less than 10 citizens, and having a sufficient number of
members so that their appointment may be equally apportioned
between the participating counties. Two or more members shall
be persons who are 14 to 21 years of age, inclusive, if there are
available persons 14 to 21 years of age, inclusive, who are able to
carry out the duties of a commission member in a manner
satisfactory to the appointing authority. Two or more members
shall be parents or guardians of previously or currently incarcerated
youth, if there are available persons who meet this requirement
who are able to carry out the duties of a commission member in a
manner satisfactory to the appointing authority. One member shall
be a licensed social worker, licensed psychiatrist, or licensed
psychologist with expertise in adolescent development, if there is
an available person who meets this requirement who is able to
carry out the duties of a commission member in a manner
satisfactory to the appointing authority. The presiding judge of the
superior court with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile
court or, in a county having more than one judge of the juvenile
court, with the concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile
court of each of the participating counties shall appoint an equal
number of members to the regional justice commission and the
members shall hold office for a term of four years. Of those first
appointed, however, if the number of members appointed is an
even number, one-half shall serve for a term of two years and
one-half shall serve for a term of four years. If the number of
members first appointed is an odd number, the greater number
nearest one-half shall serve for a term of two years and the
remainder shall serve for a term of four years. The respective terms
of the members first appointed shall be determined by lot as soon
as possible after their appointment. Upon a vacancy occurring in
the membership of the commission, and upon the expiration of the
term of office of any member, a successor shall be appointed by
the presiding judge of the superior court with the concurrence of
the judge of the juvenile court or, in a county having more than
one judge of the juvenile court, with the concurrence of the
presiding judge of the juvenile court of the county that originally
appointed the vacating or retiring member. If a vacancy occurs for
any reason other than the expiration of a term of office, the
appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term of his or her
predecessor.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

SEC. 6.  

Section 229 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

229.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert It shall be the duty of a juvenile justice commission
to inquire into the administration of the juvenile court law in the
county or region in which the commission serves. For this purpose
the commission shall have access to all publicly administered
institutions authorized or whose use is authorized by this chapter
situated in the county or region, shall inspect begin delete such end delete begin insert those end insert institutions
begin delete no less frequently than end delete begin insert at least end insert once a year, and may hold hearings.
A judge of the juvenile court begin delete shall have the power to end delete begin insert may end insert issue
subpoenas requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and
production of papers at hearings of the commission.

begin insert (b) end insert begin insert   end insert A juvenile justice commission shall annually inspect any
jail or lockup within the county begin delete which end delete begin insert that, end insert in the preceding
calendar begin delete year end delete begin insert year, end insert was used for confinement for more than 24
hours of any minor. It shall report the results of begin delete such inspection end delete
begin insert the inspection, end insert together with its recommendations based thereon,
in writing, to the juvenile court and to the Board of begin insert State and
Community end insert Corrections.

begin insert

(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

end insert

SEC. 7.  

Section 229 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:

229.  

(a) It shall be the duty of a juvenile justice commission
to inquire into the administration of the juvenile court law in the
county or region in which the commission serves. For this purpose
the commission shall have access to all publicly administered
institutions authorized or whose use is authorized by this chapter
situated in the county or region, shall inspect those institutions at
least once a year, and may hold public hearings. A judge of the
juvenile court may issue subpoenas requiring attendance and
testimony of witnesses and production of papers at hearings of the
commission.

(b) A juvenile justice commission shall annually inspect any
jail or lockup within the county that, in the preceding calendar
year, was used for confinement for more than 24 hours of any
minor. As part of the annual inspection, the commission may
review the records of the jail or lockup as to the use of solitary
confinement, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of
Section 208.3. The commission shall report the results of the
inspection, together with its recommendations based thereon, in
writing, to the juvenile court and the Board of State and
Community Corrections, and may report those results to the county
board of supervisors. The commission may present its report at an
annual hearing on the condition of juvenile justice corrections as
part of a regularly scheduled public meeting of the county board
of supervisors, and may publish the report on the county
government’s Internet Web site.

(c) A juvenile justice commission may annually inspect any
facility within the county other than a jail or lockup that, in the
preceding calendar year, was used for confinement for more than
24 hours of any minor. As part of the annual inspection, the
commission may review the records of the facility as to the use of
solitary confinement, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision
(a) of Section 208.3. If the commission inspects a facility, the
commission may report the results of the inspection, together with
its recommendations based thereon, in writing, to the juvenile
court, the county board of supervisors, and the Board of State and
Community Corrections. The commission may present its report
at an annual hearing on the condition of juvenile justice corrections
as part of a regularly scheduled public meeting of the county board
of supervisors, and may publish the report on the county
government’s Internet Web site.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

SEC. 8.  

Section 230 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

230.  

A juvenile justice commission may recommend to any
person charged with the administration of any of the provisions
of this chapter begin delete such end delete begin insert those end insert changes as it has concluded, after
investigation, will be beneficial. A commission may publicize its
begin delete recommendations. end delete begin insert recommendations on the county government’s
Internet Web site. end insert

SEC. 9.  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.