BILL ANALYSIS
AB 235
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 235 (Kuehl)
As Amended May 28, 1999
Majority vote
PUBLIC SAFETY 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 14-7
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|Ayes:|Honda, Cunneen, Battin, |Ayes:|Migden, Cedillo, Davis, |
| |Cedillo, | |Hertzberg, Kuehl, Papan, |
| |Keeley, Romero, | |Romero, Shelley, |
| |Washington | |Steinberg, Thomson, |
| | | |Wesson, Wiggins, Wright, |
| | | |Aroner |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Brewer, Ashburn, Battin, |
| | | |Pescetti, Maldonado, |
| | | |Runner, Zettel |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Creates the California Youth Violence Prevention
Authority (Authority) within the Attorney General's (AG) Office.
The Authority has duties and responsibilities related to the
prevention of youth violence, including the production of a
statewide plan for the coordination of violence prevention
programs by January 1, 2001. Specifically, this bill :
1)Creates the California Youth Violence Prevention Authority
within the AG's office. The Authority's duties include
providing coordination of state and local efforts to prevent
violence among youth, assisting local communities in their
efforts to implement programs and strategies, seeking funding
for programs, providing public education on effective program
models, providing training and technical assistance, and
advocating for the prevention of violence among children,
youth and families.
2)Provides for the preparation of a statewide plan for the
augmentation, allocation, and coordination of youth violence
prevention programs and resources.
3)Creates an advisory board composed of representatives from the
AG, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Director of the
Youth Authority, Director of the Office of Criminal Justice
AB 235
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Planning, and Director of the Department of Health Services.
The advisory board also includes eight public members. Four
of the members are appointed by the Governor and include a
local law enforcement officer, a chief probation officer, an
advocate or individual representing victims of violent crime,
and a representative of a school or school district that has
implemented a school-based violence prevention program. The
remaining four public members are appointed by the Speaker of
the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee and include a
representative of a community-based agency, a criminologist, a
medical or health professional, and a youth member under the
age of 25.
4)Declares legislative intent to achieve greater efficiency in
government by considering consolidation of violence prevention
programs.
EXISTING LAW requires the Department of Justice to carry out
specified duties, including duties relating to the controlling
of crime and the administration of justice. Existing law
further authorizes the Department of the Youth Authority to
incarcerate and supervise certain youthful offenders.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, this bill has annual General Fund costs in
the range of $300,000 for administration of the Authority. This
would support a staff of two professionals, two administrative
assistants and a minor amount for office expenses and travel.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "In 1994, the Little Hoover
commission reported that early intervention is a prime and
necessary ingredient to keep at risk children from beginning a
life of criminal activity. The state's response to this concern
has been both fragmented and inefficient. As a 1996 Commonweal
study noted, the state of California funds at least twenty-six
different youth violence prevention programs, and these programs
are administered by nine different state agencies. AB 235
consolidates these efforts under one comprehensive state agency.
. . . By coordinating state programs, the Authority will more
efficiently address the needs of local service providers. The
Authority will build the capacity of organizations, communities,
and local government to develop, implement, and evaluate
prevention programs. AB 235 centralizes authority over juvenile
crime prevention."
AB 235
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Please see the policy committee analysis for a more
comprehensive discussion of this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Bruce E. Chan / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744
FN: 0001607