BILL NUMBER: AB 2459INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Caballero FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to add Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 2200) to Division 2.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to juveniles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2459, as introduced, Caballero. Juvenile crime prevention: evidence-based programs. Existing law sets forth the purpose of juvenile court law, and provides that a minor under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a consequence of delinquent conduct shall, in conformity with the interests of public safety and protection, receive care, treatment, and guidance that is consistent with his or her best interest, that holds the minor accountable for his or her behavior, and that is appropriate for his or her circumstances. This bill would, beginning in the 2011-12 fiscal year require that specified 25% of moneys appropriated for the supervision of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system and for programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence or to reduce recidivism are to be allocated to evidence-based programs, as defined. This bill would increase the allocations to 50% for the 2012-13 fiscal year, and to 75% for the 2013-14 fiscal year and each of the following fiscal years. This bill would, beginning in the 2012-13 fiscal year, require the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to prepare a report for the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of evidence-based program in the supervision of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system and in programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence or to reduce recidivism. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 2200) is added to Division 2.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: CHAPTER 4. CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK JUVENILES 2200. It is the intent of the Legislature to increase the use of evidence-based programs in state-funded programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence and to reduce recidivism among juvenile offenders. 2201. For purposes of this chapter: (a) "Agency" means: (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Division of Juvenile Facilities, and any other any state agency responsible for supervising juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system. (2) The State Board of Education, the California Emergency Management Agency, and any other state agency responsible for programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence or to reduce recidivism. (b) "Evidence-based program" means a program: (1) That does any of the following: (A) Incorporates significant and relevant practices that are based on scientifically based research, including all testing and evaluations of and for persons. (B) Uses practices that have been documented to be valid and reliable. (C) Is cost effective in the service that it provides. (2) "Evidence-based program" does not include either of the following: (A) An educational program or service that an agency is required to provide to meet educational requirements pursuant to state law. (B) Basic medical services. (c) "Scientifically based research" means research that obtains reliable and valid knowledge by all of the following: (1) Employing systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment. (2) Involving rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn. (3) Relying on measurements or observational methods that provide reliable and valid data across evaluators and observers, across multiple measurements and observations, and across studies by the same or different investigators. 2202. (a) For the 2011-12 fiscal year, at least 25 percent of the state moneys appropriated for the supervision of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system and for programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence or to reduce recidivism shall be allocated to evidence-based programs. (b) For the 2012-13 fiscal year, at least 50 percent of the state moneys appropriated for the supervision of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system and for programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence or to reduce recidivism shall be allocated to evidence-based programs. (c) For the 2013-14 fiscal year and in each following fiscal year, at least 75 percent of the state moneys appropriated for the supervision of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system and for programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence or to reduce recidivism shall be allocated to evidence-based programs. 2203. (a) Beginning in the 2012-13 fiscal year, and for each following fiscal year, the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall prepare a report for the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the use of evidence-based programs in the supervision of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system and in programs designed to deter juvenile crime and violence or to reduce recidivism. (b) The reports shall include all of the following: (1) An assessment of each program that the agency spent moneys on in the previous fiscal year, including programs that are not evidence based. (2) The percentage of state appropriated moneys for programs that each agency spent on evidence-based programs in the previous fiscal year. (3) The percentage of moneys received by the agency for programs other than state appropriated moneys that were spent on evidence-based programs in the previous fiscal year. (4) A description of the efforts each agency is making to meet the requirements of this section. (c) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature on or before November 1 of each year, following the end of the prior fiscal year.