H-4012.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2546

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives Radcliff, Ballasiotes, Dickerson, Costa and O'Brien

Read first time 01/15/98.  Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

Reducing juvenile crime through art education.

    AN ACT Relating to rehabilitating juvenile offenders through art education; adding a new section to chapter 13.40 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that rates of violent offenses and substance abuse are increasing within the juvenile population.  Research has shown that allowing juveniles to express their feelings positively through art reduces recidivism and substance abuse.  Introducing at-risk youth to the joys, rewards, and value of education through culturally relevant, experimental activities such as art and humanities projects provides a way to reduce the recidivism of juvenile offenders.  The juvenile rehabilitation administration of the department of social and health services and the experimental gallery of the children's museum have implemented a project designed to alleviate recidivism by helping institutional staff and schools meet the special educational and social needs of juvenile offenders.  The experimental gallery addresses the continuing impact of youth crime and violence by teaching these youth to use aggression-replacement techniques, such as art, as alternatives to violence.  Art education may raise academic and vocational skills, increase juvenile self-esteem, and improve behavior within juvenile institutions.  Expansion of the experimental gallery art program is necessary to teach responsible citizenship through the arts and humanities to youth at risk of entering the corrections system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

    The juvenile rehabilitation administration of the department of social and health services shall contract with the children's museum for the expansion of the experimental gallery program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the juvenile rehabilitation administration of the department of social and health services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, to carry out the purposes of this act.  These funds are provided solely to contract with the children's museum for the expansion of the experimental gallery program.

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