FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1333

PARTIAL VETO

                     Synopsis as Enacted

                         C 497 L 93

Brief Description:  Providing for youth gang violence reduction.

By House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Flemming, Leonard, Veloria, Chappell, R. Fisher, Dunshee, Linville, Eide, Franklin, Ludwig, Roland, Rayburn, Pruitt, Finkbeiner, Holm, Basich, Lemmon, Johanson, Karahalios, Jones, H. Myers, Morris, L. Johnson, Ogden and J. Kohl).

House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:  The problem of youth gang violence has increased in recent years.  Local law enforcement agencies and school districts are working to address the problem of youth gang activity and violence on the streets and in the schools.  Most efforts to control gang activity have focused on law enforcement responses; there have been only a few efforts aimed at gang prevention or intervention.

Summary:  A Gang Risk Prevention and Intervention Pilot Program is created.  The state may provide grants or technical assistance to local school districts or community organizations to reduce the probability of youth gang activities at the local level.

The Department of Community Development (DCD) may recommend funding of existing programs or contract with school districts or community organizations to develop community-based gang risk prevention and intervention programs at the local level.  A school district's proposal must be for a two-year period and include:  a description of program area; demonstration of broad-based business and community support; qualifications of community organizations; description of program goals, activities, curriculum; and proposed budget for expenditure of grant funds.  School districts or individual schools may not use grant funds for their administrative costs.

The local programs must contain:  counseling for at-risk students and their families, exposure to sports and cultural activities, job training and apprenticeship programs, positive interaction with local law enforcement personnel, use of local organizations for job search training skills, cultural awareness retreats, community service activities, and use of full service schools.

A school district in a county with a population in excess of 190,000 may subcontract with public entities and individual schools or community organizations to establish gang risk prevention and intervention programs.  Proposals for contracts must be reviewed and a recommendation made by a committee consisting of a representative from the school district, a representative appointed by DCD, and a representative from the local juvenile court administration.  School districts must monitor and evaluate the funded local pilot programs.  School districts or individual schools may not use grant funds for their administrative costs.

When requested, state agencies are authorized to provide the following assistance to local community organizations or school districts in counties with a population in excess of 190,000:

oThe Employment Security Department may provide a job counselor to assist in the cultural awareness retreats.  The services of the job counselor include testing for job occupation preferences, providing information on various occupations, establishing a business mentor program between businesses and youth, and other services as needed.

oThe Department of Labor and Industries may provide:   information on skills and educational background needed for apprenticeship programs, assistance to program participants applying for apprenticeship programs, feasibility of pre-apprenticeship programs, assistance in establishing a joint apprenticeship mentor program, and assistance at cultural awareness retreats.

oThe Division of Juvenile Rehabilitation (DJR) must, in cooperation with businesses, or under an interagency agreement with the State Parks and Recreation Commission or the Department of Natural Resources, provide facilities for cultural awareness retreats.  DJR may provide other services including a person with knowledge of juvenile gang behavior.  DJR must notify the departments of Labor and Industries and Employment Security of the date, time, and place of the retreat.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  98 0

Senate 49 0 (Senate amended)

House  95 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1993

Partial Veto Summary: The veto removes the provision that allows local school districts, in counties with populations in excess of 190,000, to directly fund local youth gang violence reduction programs in individual schools.  The veto also removes the requirement that the Department of Community Development, the Department of Labor and Industries, the Employment Security Department, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Division of Juvenile Rehabilitation provide specialized services to school districts that participate in the youth gang violence reduction program.  (See VETO MESSAGE)