FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   2SSB 5830

                                  C 296 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Creating gang risk intervention pilot programs.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Stratton, Erwin, Rasmussen, Williams, Talmadge, Wojahn, Vognild, Pelz, Snyder and Owen).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

BACKGROUND:

Intensification of youth gang involvement, with its accompanying crime and violence, increasingly threatens not only the property and safety of the citizens of Washington, but the future of the youth themselves.  Local government, law enforcement and the educational system are increasingly overwhelmed by efforts to cope with the many social, business and criminal justice costs arising from youth gang activities.

Other jurisdictions have attempted creative statutory approaches to youth gang risk intervention, such as cultural awareness programs, targeted counselling efforts and special business and job apprenticeship mentoring.  In a social matrix where traditional educational and counselling methods have proved ineffective, many creative new ideas are being tried throughout the country.

SUMMARY:

A youth gang violence reduction program is established to develop a positive prevention and intervention pilot program for elementary and secondary school youth.  The program utilizes multi-agency cooperation, along with efforts of business and local government.

The Department of Community Development may contract with school districts, developing proposals to curtail violence and reduce drop-out rates, by using broad-based community and business support, and a "retreat" format.  The gang risk prevention and intervention pilot program will include the elements of: counselling for targeted at-risk students, including their parents and families; exposure to positive sports and cultural activities; job and job search training; positive interaction with law enforcement; and cultural awareness retreats at facilities provided by the division of juvenile rehabilitation.

The Department of Labor and Industries will provide assistance with apprenticeship programs, including application help and a joint apprenticeship mentor program, presented at cultural awareness retreats.

The Employment Security Department will provide job counselors to assist at cultural awareness retreats, providing information and testing, and coordinating the involvement of small business owners and corporate managers in a business mentor program.

The act is contingent upon funding in the Omnibus Appropriations Act.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      49    0

House 98    0

EFFECTIVE:This act is null and void since no appropriation was made in the budget.