Analysis
Letter to Author
Action Alert
Facts about AB 1877 (Maldonado) and SB 1979 (Costa)
TURNING POINT ACADAMY EXTENSION
AB 1877 and SB 1979 each propose to extend the "sunset" until July 1, 2004 for legislation establishing a National Guard academy for minors who are expelled for bringing a firearm to school. The bills would also expand the types of offenses which could give rise to assignment of juveniles to the academy to include additional acts for which a student should be expelled from high school.
Background: The Turning Point Academy was established last year in San Luis Obispo, because the Governor thought a military school would provide a good placement for youths who brought guns to school and were therefore expelled.
The Problem: juvenile judges sent only about ten students to attend and the budgeted cost was $9 million. This year’s budget suggests it will cost about $3 million to maintain the academy with its existing low enrollment—about $300,000 per person!
Although juvenile courts need a wide variety of placement options for young offenders, FCL doubts the wisdom of having a state-run military school. The National Guard, which provides mission-ready forces to the federal government and emergency public safety support, is not well equipped to provide quality services to students who have such problems with authority that they have suffered school expulsions.
Recommendation Oppose AB 1877 &SB 1979.
Status AB 1877 is be heard in Assembly Public Safety Committee, on April 2, 2002 and SB 1979 is set for hearing in Senate Public Safety Committee on April 16, 2002.
Prepared by the Friends Committee on Legislation, 926 J Street #707, Sacramento, CA 95814 - March 8, 2002
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AB 1877 (Abel Maldonado, R-San Luis Obispo) and SB 1979 (Jim Costa, D., Fresno)
AB 1877, as amended, Maldonado. Turning Point Academy.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2002, the Turning Point
Academy to provide a military academy experience as a rehabilitation
program for eligible wards of the juvenile court. Among other
criteria for admission to the academy, an eligible minor must be at
least 15 years of age and must have been found to have committed a
firearms-related offense at a school or at a school activity off
school grounds under circumstances under which the principal or
superintendent of schools would be required to recommend expulsion of
the minor. In addition, the minor must not have been previously
found to be a ward of the court.
This bill would expand these criteria to include a minor who has
committed any offense one of certain
specified wrongful acts, other than defined sexual acts, at a
school or at a school activity off school grounds under circumstances
under which the principal or superintendent of schools would be
required to recommend expulsion of the minor. The bill would revise
the criteria to include a minor who has not been found to be a ward
of the court of more than 2 prior occasions, or who comes within a
specified exception to this requirement. The bill would make a
conforming change. The bill would also extend the operative date of
these provisions until July 1, 2004, as specified.
SB 1979, as introduced, Costa. Turning Point Academy.
Existing Law authorizes the Adjutant General of the Military
Department until July 1, 2002, to develop, establish, and operate the
Turning Point Academy for the purpose of providing a comprehensive
and meaningful military academy experience for minors residing in
California who are 15 years of age or older and who have committed a
firearms-related offense at school or a school activity off school
grounds.
This bill instead would extend those provisions to youth over age 14 found to have vandalized or stolen school property, used illicit substances, or committed certain other offenses at school or at a school activity off school grounds.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until
July 1, 2004. The bill would also make related changes with respect
to alcohol and drug screening.
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Friends Committee on Legislation
March 7, 2002
Abel Maldonado
Re: Turning Point Academy, Opposition
Assembly Bill 1877 (Maldonado)
Dear Assembly Member Maldonado:
The Friends Committee on Legislation respectfully opposes AB 1877, which would extend the life of the little-used Turning Point Academy at a cost of at least $3 million. In a very tight budget year, certainly we can find more cost-effective ways to deal with youth, and more suitable work than this for the National Guard.
The last time we checked, Turning Point Academy had only about 10 students, making the initial cost nearly a million dollars per student. More important, the institution was proposed on the flawed assumption that military style training could serve as a one-program-serves-all solution for youth who engage in particular forms of misbehavior. In fact, much more flexibility is needed, and most youth should be in programs closer to their families.
The costs of salvaging the Turning Point Academy far exceed its value. For these reasons, we oppose AB 1877.
Yours very truly,
STEVE BIRDLEBOUGH
CC: Carl Washington, Chair, Assembly Public Safety Committee
THE FCL IS A QUAKER SPONSORED LEGISLATIVE ACTION GROUP
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This page was last updated March 8, 2002
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The following letter was sent to the author concerning Assembly Bill 1877 (Maldonado):
926 J Street * Sacramento, CA 95814 * (916)443-3734
Member of the Assembly
State Capitol, Sacramento, 95814
Legislative Advocate
Friends Committee on Legislation
926 J Street#707
Sacramento,CA 95814-2707
(916)443-3734
