Legislative Analyst's Office, July 7, 1996

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT
OF THE 1996 BUDGET ACT
1996-97 FISCAL YEAR

CONTAINING STATEMENTS OF INTENT
OR REQUESTS FOR STUDIES
ADOPTED BY THE LEGISLATURE


Youth and Adult Correctional

Item 5240-001-0001--Department of Corrections
Item 5460-001-0001--Department of the Youth Authority


Youth and Adult Correctional

Item 5240-001-0001--Department of Corrections

1. Preventing Parolee Failure. The California Department of Corrections (CDC) shall (a) complete studies of the recidivism rates and cost-effectiveness of the Preventing Parolee Failure pilot programs in a timely fashion and (b) present a report for the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) and the Legislature's fiscal com mittees by April 1, 1997, outlining its recommendations as to whether each pilot project should be discontinued, modified and tested further, or expanded to serve a larger statewide parolee population. The report should estimate the increases or reductions in department funding and personnel that would be necessary to accomplish each of its recommendations.

2. Aftercare Program. The CDC shall provide the Legislature's fiscal committees with a plan by April 1, 1997, that will ensure that an effective aftercare drug rehabilitation program will be implemented and available as necessary for inmates who participate in the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility program at Corcoran.

3. Pay Telephone Reprocurement. It is the intent of the Legislature that the CDC and the Department of General Services jointly provide the Legislature with the results of their market analysis of the state's prospects for increasing General Fund revenue from prison system pay telephones within 30 days of the completion of that analysis.

It is also the intent of the Legislature that the two departments jointly report to the Legislature on the final results of the pending reprocurement of pay telephone services, including (a) the level of General Fund revenue provided over the life of the contract, and (b) changes in the communication services provided to the state, within 30 days after a vendor or vendors to provide these services has been selected.

4. Parole Staffing Study. The CDC shall conduct a study to determine the appropriate level of staffing for its parole program. The study shall take into consideration public safety needs, requirements specified in statute or regulation, and any collective bargaining agreements. A preliminary report shall be delivered to the JLBC and the fiscal committees of the Legislature by March 1, 1997 and a final report shall be delivered by March 1, 1998.

5. Special Education Legislation. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Governor's Office, in consultation with the CDC and the State Department of Education (SDE), seek a change in federal law during the 1996 session of Congress exempting adult correctional facilities, including those operated by the CDC, from any requirement to operate special education programs. It is also the intent of the Legislature that, should such a change in federal law be enacted during the 1996 session of Congress, the Governor's Office would, again in consultation with the CDC and the SDE, provide the Legislature with recommendations as to how state law governing special education programs could be conformed to the revised federal law in respect to the operation of such programs in adult correctional facilities.

6. Mira Loma Jail Lease. It is the intent of the Legislature that the CDC provide the Chair of the JLBC and the chair of the fiscal committees of each house with advance notice and a copy of any proposed contract for the incarceration of state in mates at the Mira Loma jail facility in Los Angeles County at least 30 days in advance of the anticipated date of contract approval by the department.

7. Interferon Treatment. The CDC shall submit a report to the JLBC and the Legislature's fiscal committees by December 31, 1996, on (a) the number of inmates that have been identified as having chronic hepatitis B and C, (b) the number of liver biopsies performed and the costs associated with the biopsies, and (c) the number of inmates receiving interferon treatment.

8. Local Assistance. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Finance (DOF), in consultation with the CDC and the State Controller's Office, report to the Chair of the JLBC and the chairperson of the fiscal committee of each house by January 1, 1997, regarding any actions taken to obtain reimbursement to the state as a result of the review of local assistance payments to Los Angeles County. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the DOF report to the Legislature by March 1, 1997, regarding the program and fiscal review to be conducted by the DOF of the CDC's use of local facilities for the detention of parolees, and provide recommendations regarding any statutory or regulatory changes, including possible revisions to the CDC's Daily Jail Rate Manual, that would help control the cost of the local assistance program.

9. Special Education Report. It is the intent of the Legislature that the CDC provide the Legislature the following information by January 10, 1997.

It is the intent of the Legislature to reconsider the CDC's funding request to establish the special education program, as well as funding for the balance of the 1996-97 fiscal year for the five approved program positions, after the CDC has completed the necessary planning and development of the program and provided the Legislature with the above requested information.

10. Parole Staffing Ratios. The CDC shall restructure the parole staffing ratios that are the basis of its requests for changes in expenditure authority for 1997-98 and thereafter to be consistent with the actual parole staffing practices of the Parole and Community Services Division. The department may also propose parole ratios explicitly intended to intensify parole if the fiscal impact were identified separately and justi fication provided for more intense parole supervision. The department may also review and adjust the formula on which it bases its requests for changes in expenditure author ity to ensure that the funding provided for office rent, casework services, overtime, and other operational costs increases or decreases appropriately with changes in the division's parole caseload. The department shall submit the revised parole staffing ratios calculated under this provision, along with any other proposed changes it proposes for its funding formula, to the JLBC and the Legislature's fiscal committees by December 1, 1996. This restructuring of parole staffing ratios and any proposed changes in the fund ing formula should not result in any significant change in the expenditure authority provided to the division under the 1996 Budget Act.

11. Classification Services Unit. It is the intent of the Legislature that the CDC locate the ten additional staff positions provided to the Classifications Services Unit in the field in southern California at existing department facilities in order to mini mize travel expenses and any expenses for office space for the additional staff. It is also the intent of the Legislature that, as vacancies occur, new staff be located in appropriate field locations at existing department facilities.

12. Cost of Environmental Mitigation. It is the intent of the Legislature that the department report at budget hearings annually on costs of environmental mitigation incurred in the course of accomplishing its statutory mission.

The report should include costs of mitigation as a percentage of total project costs and should identify all fund sources allocated to mitigation costs. Mitigation costs should include items or actions required by federal, state, or local law or regulation. This includes, but is not limited to, studies, surveys, analyses, acquisition of land to provide replacement habitat, costs to complete environmental impact reports or assess ments, preparation of plans, site preparation and acquisition of habitat inventory such as elderberry bushes or other vegetation required by the mitigation project. The report should include costs associated with alteration of a project to avoid mitigation. The report should include mitigation cost reimbursements to other departments or governmental agencies.

Item 5460-001-0001--Department of the Youth Authority

1. Voluntary Tattoo Removal Program. The Department of the Youth Authority shall report to the Legislature on December 1, 1996 on (a) the number of wards that have received tattoo removals and (b) the total costs of the program and the average costs for each removal.

2. Young Men As Fathers/Preparing for Positive Parenting Programs. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Youth Authority pursue, through the Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) or apply directly to the federal Department of Justice or similar federal agencies, for funding of its Young Men As Fathers/Preparing for Positive Parenting institutional, parole, and local assistance pro grams.

3. Gang Violence Reduction Local Assistance Grant Program. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Youth Authority pursue, through the OCJP or apply directly to the federal Department of Justice or similar federal agencies, for funding of its Gang Violence Reduction local assistance programs.

4. Central Office Victim Services Unit. The Youth Authority shall report to the Legislature by April 1, 1997, documenting the efforts of its Victim Services Unit. The department shall show how the addition of staff contained in its budget request has increased the unit's number and level of services.

5. Cost of Environmental Mitigation. It is the intent of the Legislature that the department report at budget hearings annually on costs of environmental mitigation incurred in the course of accomplishing its statutory mission.

The report should include costs of mitigation as a percentage of total project costs and should identify all fund sources allocated to mitigation costs. Mitigation costs should include items or actions required by federal, state, or local law or regulation. This includes, but is not limited to, studies, surveys, analyses, acquisition of land to provide replacement habitat, costs to complete environmental impact reports or assess ments, preparation of plans, site preparation and acquisition of habitat inventory such as elderberry bushes or other vegetation required by the mitigation project. The report should include costs associated with alteration of a project to avoid mitigation. The report should include mitigation cost reimbursements to other departments or governmental agencies.


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