BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2228
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Date of Hearing: May 24, 2000
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Carole Migden, Chairwoman
AB 2228 (Aroner) - As Amended: May 16, 2000
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a pilot project to test methods of
assessing the mental health needs of youth in the juvenile
justice system. Specifically, this bill:
1)Establishes the Juvenile Probation Assessment Pilot Project,
administered by the Department of Mental Health (DMH) in an
unspecified number of counties for three years. Requires DMH
to develop minimum standards, procedures for reviewing and
approving local plans, and other specified items.
2)Requires an eligible county probation department to comply
with DMH guidelines and develop a local plan for serving
juveniles under the jurisdiction of the court pursuant to
Section 602. The plan must contain specified elements,
including a uniform screening and needs assessment instrument
to detect mental or emotional disorders, and protocols for
referring minors for additional assessments and services.
3)Requires participating county probation departments to use
data collected from the screening and assessment process to
identify service needs of juveniles and work to develop an
appropriate continuum of treatment services.
4)Provides for an independent evaluation of the pilot project on
the effectiveness of the assessment and screening protocol and
other specified factors.
5)Requires DMH and participating counties to share information
from the pilot project with the statewide chief probation
officers organization.
AB 2228
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FISCAL EFFECT
Appropriates an unspecified amount from the General Fund to DMH
to administer and evaluate the pilot project. If three counties
participated, costs would be about $3 million (GF) annually.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill responds to the lack of mental health
assessments of, and services for, youth in the juvenile
justice system. Although the need for mental health services
is high-estimates indicate 50% to 75% of probation youth
suffer from behavioral, mental, or emotional disorders-they
rarely have their mental health needs diagnosed or treated.
The first step in addressing these needs is an assessment to
identify mental health and acute medical needs, substance
abuse problems, and other needs. The pilot project
established by this bill is intended to produce screening and
assessment protocols, as well as procedures, that can be
replicated and used by other counties.
2)Related Bills . Several bills this session deal with the
mental health needs of probation youth. SB 2062 (Perata),
currently on the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense
file, establishes a crime reduction grant program for mentally
ill juvenile offenders. AB 2104 (Strom-Martin), currently on
this committee's suspense file, establishes two five-year
demonstration projects for secure facilities in Humboldt and
Riverside counties to treat seriously emotionally disturbed
wards of the court.
Analysis Prepared by : Joyce Iseri / APPR. / (319) 319-2081