2009 California Welfare and Institutions Code - Section 1900-1905 :: Article 10. Youth Service Bureaus

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.