BILL NUMBER: SB 698INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Negrete McLeod FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act relating to juvenile court schools. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 698, as introduced, Negrete McLeod. Juvenile court schools: funding. Existing law provides for the administration and operation of public schools in juvenile halls, juvenile homes, day centers, juvenile ranches, juvenile camps, regional youth educational facilities, or Orange County youth correctional centers, as specified. Existing law requires the county board of education to provide for the administration and operation of juvenile court schools either by the county superintendent of schools, as specified, or by contract with the respective governing boards of the elementary, high school, or unified school district in which the juvenile court school is located. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to develop an adequate funding formula to address the specific educational needs of the state's wards who receive educational services in these juvenile court schools. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Chapter 175 of the Statutes of 2007 redefined the offenses for which a ward may be committed to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities. (2) Over the past decade, the wards detained in county facilities have become a higher-cost population to serve than in previous years. (3) The funding allocated for the education of wards under the jurisdiction of the county juvenile court schools does not adequately reflect the needs of these students. (4) Studies have shown that the educational success of delinquent and probation youth dramatically reduces recidivism and prevents entry into the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (5) Studies further show that the educational success of delinquent and probation youth results in tremendous savings to the state in social services, health care, and unemployment costs. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would develop an adequate funding formula to address the specific educational needs of the state's wards who receive educational services pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 48645) of Chapter 4 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code.