California Assembly Bill AB526 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 526INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Dickinson FEBRUARY 15, 2011 An act to amend Section 13827 of the Penal Code, relating to crime prevention. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 526, as introduced, Dickinson. Gang and youth violence: evidence-based practices. Existing law establishes the Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy to, among other things, identify and evaluate gang and youth violence suppression, intervention, and prevention programs and strategies and funding. Existing law requires the Secretary of Emergency Management to take certain measures to identify and promote best practices to address gang and youth violence. This bill would instead require the secretary to identify and implement evidence-based practices to address gang and youth violence. The bill would also require the California Emergency Management Agency to make recommendations on the most effective role of the agency in developing a plan to shift state-funded crime prevention and juvenile justice programs toward evidence-based practices over a 3-year period. 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. Section 13827 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 13827. (a) There is within the agency, the Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy. (b) (1) The Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy shall be responsible for identifying and evaluating state, local, and federal gang and youth violence suppression, intervention, and prevention programs and strategies, along with funding for those efforts. The  director   secretary  shall be responsible for monitoring, assessing, and coordinating the state's programs, strategies, and funding that address gang and youth violence in a manner that maximizes the effectiveness and coordination of those programs, strategies, and resources. The secretary shall communicate with local agencies and programs in an effort to  promote the best   identify and implement evidence-based  practices for addressing gang and youth violence through suppression, intervention, and prevention. (2) The agency shall develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to define its mission, role, and responsibilities as a statewide entity dedicated to reducing violence and the proliferation of gangs and gang violence in California communities. (3) In developing this set of recommendations, the agency shall collaborate with a wide range of state and local stakeholders, including, but not limited to, community-based organizations serving at-risk populations and neighborhoods, law enforcement, educators, the courts, policy experts and scholars with expertise in the area of criminal street gangs, and local policymakers. (4) The agency, in collaboration with the stakeholders specified in paragraph (3), shall include in its deliberations the most effective role for the office with respect to the following: (A) The collection and analysis of data on gang membership statewide and the effectiveness of various gang prevention efforts. (B) The development of reliable and accurate sources of data to measure the scale and characteristics of California's gang problems. (C) The development of a clearinghouse for research on gangs, at-risk youth, and prevention and intervention programs in order to identify  best practices and evidence-based programming, as well as unsuccessful   evidence-based  practices, and in order to promote effective strategies for reducing gang involvement and gang violence.  (D) The development of a plan to shift state-funded crime prevention and juvenile justice programs toward evidence-based practices over a three-year period.   (D)   (E)  Assisting state and local governmental and nongovernmental entities in developing violence and gang prevention strategies, including built-in evaluation components.  (E)   (F)  The development of sustained coordination mechanisms among state, local, and regional entities.  (F)   (G)  The identification of available or needed federal, state, regional, local, and private funding resources.  (G)   (H)  Providing or otherwise promoting public education on effective programs, models, and strategies for the control of violence and serving as a clearinghouse for information on gang violence prevention issues, programs, resources, and research.  (H)   (I)  Providing or otherwise promoting training and technical assistance to help build the capacity of organizations, communities, and local government to develop, implement, and evaluate gang violence prevention programs.  (I)   (J)  Providing information and guidance to state and local governmental and nongovernmental entities on accessing state and federal resources to prevent gang violence.  (J)   (K)  Facilitating greater integration between existing entities with respect to gang prevention efforts.