1900-1905
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
SECTION 1900-1905
1900. The Legislature hereby finds that the most significant trend in the development of delinquency prevention programs has been in the direction of multipurpose youth service bureau projects implemented at the neighborhood level, receiving delinquent and predelinquent youth referred by parents, schools, police, probation, and other agencies, as well as self-referral. Designed especially for less seriously delinquent youth, programmatic aspects often include group and individual counseling, work and recreation programs, employment counseling, special education, utilization of paraprofessionals and volunteers, outreach services, and youth participation in the decisionmaking process. Often activities encouraging youths' families, local community citizens, and representatives of established agencies are included in project activities. While youth service bureau programs have been effective in diverting youth out of the justice system, it has also been the case that these programs have been hampered in their operations due to lack of consistent and stable funding. Therefore, it is proposed that a significant number of youth service bureaus be established throughout the state and be located in areas with a high concentration of vulnerable youth, by means of a cost-sharing plan between local communities and the state. 1901. Pursuant to the provisions of this article, any public or private organization may make application to the Department of the Youth Authority for the purpose of receiving funding from the Department of the Youth Authority for the establishment or operation or both of one or more youth service bureaus. Such youth service bureaus shall develop and operate direct and indirect service programs designed to: (a) Divert young people from the justice system; (b) Prevent delinquent behavior by young people; (c) Provide opportunities for young people to function as responsible members of their communities. 1902. (a) The Department of the Youth Authority shall develop, adopt, prescribe, monitor and enforce minimum standards for youth service bureaus funded under the provisions of this article. Such standards shall be for the purposes of carrying out, and not inconsistent with, the provisions of this article. (b) The Department of the Youth Authority shall seek advice from knowledgeable individuals, groups and agencies in the development of such standards. 1903. Application for funding of youth service bureaus under the provisions of this article shall be made in the manner prescribed by the Department of the Youth Authority. 1904. From any state moneys made available to it for such purpose, the Department of the Youth Authority shall, in accordance with this article, share in the cost of each youth service bureau meeting the standards prescribed for youth service bureaus by the department at the rate of 50 percent of the actual fiscal year costs of each youth service bureau, or eighty-seven thousand two hundred dollars ($87,200) per fiscal year for each youth service bureau, whichever amount is the lesser. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the grant of a cost-of-living increase to youth service bureaus. It shall be determined in the annual Budget Act whether local matching funds shall be required with any cost-of-living increase granted from the General Fund. 1905. Each youth service bureau funded under this article shall maintain accurate and complete case records, reports, statistics and other information necessary for the conduct of its programs; establish appropriate written policies and procedures to protect the confidentiality of individual client records; and submit monthly reports to the Department of the Youth Authority concerning services and activities.