Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/10/1993 10:15 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 51: An Act providing for establishment of work camps for juveniles adjudicated delinquent, and extending to all cities and to nonprofit corporations authority to maintain facilities for juveniles. CO-CHAIR DRUE PEARCE invited Senator Randy Phillips, sponsor of SB 51, to join the committee at the table and speak to the bill. SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS said similar legislation had been introduced several years ago. He said that the work camp facility would be used only by minors. The individuals placed in the work camp could be required to do labor on buildings or perform other duties including educational projects. SB 51 would authorize the Department of Health & Social Services (DH&SS) to establish regulations for the operation of these work camps and would place delinquents into work camps instead of detention facilities. It would also provide that a city or non-profit organization could maintain a juvenile work camp under regulations to be adopted by DH&SS. There are 23 states that have some kind of boot or work camps as an alternative for young adult offenders. He said the bill carried a fiscal note for DH&SS in the amount of $9.3 to set up regulations. He said he provided the committee with a sectional analysis, and a handout describing a successful boot camp in Nevada (copy on file). SENATOR JAY KERTTULA said that state work camps had been established right after statehood. It seemed to work very well until special interest groups began to provide full- cost-of-care. The result was that full-cost-of-care services for the least of the delinquents cost the state more per person per day than it did after the program was decreased to half and only the incorrigibles were being served. He warned that this well-meaning program could turn into a disaster. Senator Phillips pointed out that SB 51 had passed through the Health & Social Services and Judiciary Committee with no changes. Co-chair Pearce invited Randall Hines, Program Officer, Division of Family & Youth Services, Department of Health & Social Services, to join the committee at the table. RANDALL HINES spoke to the fiscal note in the amount of $9.3 which would fund the design of the regulations establishing the work camp as outlined in SB 51. He said that the department was in support of the legislation. SENATOR TIM KELLY asked if this facility could be contracted out. Mr. Hines said that it would not have to operated by the state. Senator Kerttula spoke in support of SB 51 but felt the fiscal note would not cover the total expense of starting this program. He reiterated his support but advised that this was a multi-million dollar program. Possibly it was the least expensive way to handle youth problems but felt the department should be more realistic about the real cost. Mr. Hines said the department was just beginning to develop the program, and had not decided what individuals would fit into it. He said that money is being spent on these individuals now and hopefully that same money would be transferred to this program. Senator Phillips said that the department could draw sufficient information from the work camps in other states. He felt the intention was to go slowly and do it right. He pointed out Sec. 4 outlined who could run a work camp. Senator Kelly MOVED for passage of SB 51 from committee with individual recommendations. No objections being heard, SB 51 was REPORTED OUT of committee with individual recommendations and with a fiscal note for the Department of Health & Social Services for $9.3. Co-chair Pearce, Senators Kelly and Sharp signed "do pass." Senators Kerttula and Jacko signed "no recommendation." Senator Frank had left the meeting and did not sign.
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