BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2228
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2228 (Aroner)
As Amended May 26, 2000
Majority vote
HUMAN SERVICES 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 14-7
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|Ayes:|Aroner, Ashburn, Bock, |Ayes:|Migden, Alquist, Aroner, |
| |Brewer, Ducheny, Dutra, | |Cedillo, Corbett, Davis, |
| |Strom-Martin | |Kuehl, Papan, Romero, |
| | | |Shelley, Thomson, Wesson, |
| | | |Wiggins, Wright |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Campbell, Ackerman, |
| | | |Ashburn, Brewer, |
| | | |Maldonado, Runner, Zettel |
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SUMMARY : Establishes a pilot project to test methods of
assessing youths in the juvenile delinquency system.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Establishes a three-year, three-county Juvenile Probation
Assessment Pilot Project (pilot project) to obtain information
regarding the mental health, substance abuse, health,
education and family history of wards of the juvenile court.
2)Requires the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to develop
minimum screening and assessment instruments, protocols,
funding schedules, and procedures for data collection for use
by pilot counties.
3)Requires DMH to review and approve county plans and provide
technical assistance.
4)Requires the probation department in counties desiring to
participate in the pilot project to establish a local plan
consistent with DMH guidelines that provides for:
a) The development and application of a uniform needs
assessment tool;
b) The screening of youth, referral of youth to more
AB 2228
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extensive assessment when needed, and referral to needed
services, to the extent local resources are available;
c) The establishment of an assessment team that includes,
at a minimum, the local probation department, which shall
serve as the lead agency, the mental health, health, and
substance abuse departments, and the county office of
education; and,
d) Minimum education and training requirements for staff
administering the pilot project.
5)Requires county probation departments in counties
participating in the pilot to:
a) Identify the service needs of youth assessed in the
county;
b) Develop a plan for providing an appropriate continuum of
treatment services; and,
c) Identify existing local, state, federal and private
resources that could fund these services.
6)Authorizes pilot counties to release information about youth
to DMH for oversight and evaluation purposes and requires that
the projects be independently evaluated.
7)Requires DMH, in collaboration with the pilot project
evaluators and participating counties, to gather and integrate
information collected by the pilot counties and make this
information available to the statewide chief probation
officers association.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires county probation departments to provide care and
supervision to delinquent children who are or may become wards
of the juvenile court.
2)Requires county mental health departments, to the extent
resources are available, to provide mental health services to
seriously emotionally disturbed children as the first service
priority.
AB 2228
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3)Establishes the Children's Services Mental Health Act under
which participating counties are required to develop a system
of care for the treatment of emotionally disturbed children.
4)States legislative intent that mental health assessment and
treatment services be available to wards and dependents of the
juvenile court and requires DMH to develop an individualized
needs assessment protocol for that purpose.
FISCAL EFFECT : Implementation of the project is contingent
upon an appropriation in the Budget Act. As passed by the
Assembly, the Budget Act contains a $3 million appropriation to
support the pilot project.
COMMENTS : According to the author, various estimates state that
between one-third and two-thirds of youth in the juvenile
delinquency system have mental health problems. California
currently has no structured procedure for the assessment of
youth when they enter the delinquency system in order to
identify mental health, health, or substance abuse problems, or
educational needs. Early assessment and identification of
youth's problems will enable county probation departments to
identify the services that will directly address the reasons
youth are in the delinquency system in the first place.
In December 1999, the Assembly Committee on Human Services held
a hearing at which juvenile justice professionals, educators,
mental health professionals, parents, service providers, and
advocates expressed the concern that in the past decade the
treatment needs of juvenile offenders have become increasingly
complex, with many youth requiring treatment services that are
currently unavailable.
Analysis Prepared by : Andy Shaw / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2247
FN: 0005219