Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Early Learning & Human Services Committee

HB 2432

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Promoting local intervention and prevention programs for reducing gang violence.

Sponsors: Representatives Moscoso, Ladenburg, Haigh, Jinkins, Appleton, Hope, Orwall, Kirby, Armstrong, Lytton, Goodman, Pollet, Moeller, Reykdal, Hasegawa, Kenney, Maxwell, Tharinger, Sells, Fitzgibbon, Liias, Probst, Blake, Ryu, Hansen, McCoy, Upthegrove, Dunshee, Roberts, Stanford, Kagi, Miloscia and Darneille.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Authorizes the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice (Council) to award grants to support local projects focused on criminal street gang prevention and intervention and designates a grant application review committee.

  • Provides minimum requirements for grant applicants.

  • Creates the Criminal Street Gang Prevention and Intervention Grant Program Account in the State Treasury, authorizing the funds to be spent on the grant program created by the act.

  • Requires entities receiving awards from the Council to report to the Council on the use of those funds, and requires the Council to report to the Legislature regarding the grant program.

  • Authorizes an appropriation of $5 million from the State General Fund for the 2013 fiscal year.

Hearing Date: 1/23/12

Staff: Linda Merelle (786-7092).

Background:

The Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice (Council) is the state's advisory group regarding juvenile justice matters. As the state's advisory group, it awards funds from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The Council was established in September 2010 and replaced the Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. The members to the Council were appointed in November 2010.

The Council establishes priorities for granting federal juvenile delinquency and delinquency prevention funds and has recently issued requests for proposals for grants to assist communities in addressing disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system and for delinquency prevention.

Summary of Bill:

Award of Grants

The Council is authorized to award grants to support local projects focused on criminal street gang prevention and intervention. A grant application review committee shall be comprised of the following members, each of whom will have a vote when determining awards:

Eligible Entities for Grants

Coalitions composed of at least one local governmental entity and one nonprofit nongovernmental organizations may apply for funding. The nongovernmental organization must have a documented history of creating and administering effective criminal street gang prevention and intervention programs. The applying entity must submit its application to the Council in the form and manner prescribed by the Council. The applications must demonstrate the following:

A "criminal street gang" under this act has the same meaning as the term used under the Sentencing Reform Act. It is defined as "any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, having as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal acts, and whose members or associates individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity."

Any money awarded under the grants authorized under this act must be used to supplement, not supplant, other moneys that are available for prevention and intervention programs.

Reports

Within one month of the one-year anniversary of the awarding of a grant under this act, each entity must submit a report describing the activities carried out with the grant funds. The report must include:

By December 31, 2012, the Council must report to the appropriate legislative policy and fiscal committees regarding the status of the grant program authorized under this act.

Account

A Criminal Street Gang Prevention and Intervention Grant Program Account (Account) is created in the State Treasury. Receipts from gifts, grants, and other funds from public or private sources to support the grant program authorized in this act must be deposited in the Account as well as receipts from civil penalties or recoveries from suits brought by the Attorney General for unfair competition or deceptive acts in trade or commerce. Any deposits as a result of legal actions brought by the Attorney General must not exceed $1 million per fiscal year. Money in the Account may be spent only after appropriation and only after authorization from the Secretary of the DSHS. Expenditures from the Account may be made only for establishing, administering, funding, and maintaining the grant program authorized by this act.

Appropriation: $5 million from General Fund-State for fiscal year 2013.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.