BILL ANALYSIS
AB 565
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 565 (Florez)
As Amended January 25, 2000
Majority vote
PUBLIC SAFETY 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-5
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|Ayes:|Honda, Cunneen, Battin, |Ayes:|Migden, Cedillo, Davis, |
| |Cedillo, Keeley, Romero, | |Hertzberg, Kuehl, |
| |Washington | |Maldonado, Papan, Romero, |
| | | |Shelley, Steinberg, |
| | | |Thomson, Wesson, Wiggins, |
| | | |Wright, Zettel, Aroner |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Campbell, Ackerman, |
| | | |Ashburn, Leonard, Runner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Office of Crime and Violence Prevention
within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a statewide
plan (Plan) to recommend the coordination of violence, crime and
gang prevention programs and resources. Requires the report to
be prepared jointly with DOJ, the Department of Social Services,
the Board of Corrections, the Office of Drug and Alcohol
Programs, the Office of Criminal Justice Planning, non-profit
community-based organizations, chief probation officers and the
Department of Education. Specifically, this bill :
1)Establishes the Plan's goal to reduce youth violence, crime
and gang activity.
2)Requires the Plan to include the following "measurable
objectives":
a) Identification of prevention and public health
strategies to reduce violence, crime and gang activity;
b) Implementation of prevention and public health
strategies in communities experiencing "significant levels"
of violence, crime and gang activity;
c) Identification and procurement of resources to assist in
reaching the Plan's goal; and,
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d) Recommendations for improving the delivery of current
and new prevention services.
3)Requires the Plan to contain the following:
a) Current information regarding crime and violence by
youth in California including, but not limited to, gangs
and gang activity, truancy and status offenses, and data on
domestic violence, youth victimization, drug and alcohol
abuse and education-related issues;
b) An inventory of violence, crime and gang prevention
programs operated by federal, state and local governments
as well as programs operated by private organizations and
the funding level allocated annually to each program;
c) Identification of gaps in prevention and early
intervention programs;
d) Listing the most effective strategies for reducing
violence and crime among youth;
e) Identification of risk factors that make youth and
families vulnerable to the cycle of violence, crime and
gangs;
f) Identification of protective factors that can prevent
and reduce violence, crime and gangs;
g) Identification of community efforts toward preventing
and reducing crime and gangs; and,
h) A plan to secure resources and work with local
communities statewide.
4)Requires the Plan to be submitted to the Legislature within
one year of enactment.
5)Limits the budget for development of the Plan to $100,000.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, no more than $100,000 may be expended on
this process, though the actual cost of this bill as outlined is
closer to $200,000, based on the equivalent of three personnel
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years. If the plan is developed by the Health and Welfare
Agency, costs could be even higher, as that agency has little
expertise in criminal justice planning.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "While recognizing the need
to punish those who commit crimes in California, there is also a
need to try and prevent crime, violence, and gang activity among
California's youth. AB 565 will help ensure greater efficiency
in our juvenile crime prevention efforts by consolidating
existing programs into one office. AB 565 differs from other
juvenile crime prevention bills by providing a clear definition
of 'at-risk youth,' allowing the Office of Violence, Crime and
Gang Prevention to take a proactive approach in
juvenile crime prevention and intervention."
Please see the policy committee analysis for a more
comprehensive discussion of this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Harry Dorfman / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744
FN: 0004171