Assembly Bill No. 426–Assemblywoman Angle

 

March 19, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Concurrent Committees on Education
and Ways and Means

 

SUMMARY—Requires Division of Child and Family Services of Department of Human Resources to establish pilot program to study literacy of juvenile offenders. (BDR S‑1270)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation included in Executive Budget.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to juvenile offenders; requiring the Division of Child and Family Services of the Department of Human Resources to establish a pilot program to study the literacy of juvenile offenders; making an appropriation to carry out the pilot program; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

   Whereas, According to the United States Department of Education, recent estimates indicate that approximately 85 percent of juvenile offenders have difficulty with reading and comprehending reading material; and

   Whereas, A national study conducted by Project READ, found that more than one-third of the juveniles who were incarcerated at the median age of 15.5 years read below the fourth grade reading level; and

   Whereas, Ninety percent of the teachers who provide reading instruction in juvenile correctional facilities reported that they had “students who [could not] read material composed of words from their own oral vocabularies”; and

   Whereas, While illiteracy and poor academic performance are not direct causes of delinquency, empirical studies consistently demonstrate a strong link between inadequate literacy skills and the likelihood of involvement in the juvenile justice system; and

   Whereas, According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the United States Department of Justice, education is critical to rehabilitation for troubled youth; and

   Whereas, The Federal Bureau of Prisons reports that the more education received, the less likely a person is to be rearrested or reimprisoned; and

   Whereas, A report issued by the Congressional Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency estimated that the national rate of

recidivism for juvenile offenders is between 60 percent and 84 percent but, for juveniles involved in programs of quality instruction in reading, the rate of recidivism could be reduced by 20 percent or more; and

   Whereas, Since a juvenile’s involvement in the criminal justice system can be a critical intervention point to prevent future criminal activity, it is essential that appropriate programs emphasizing literacy be established for and available to juvenile offenders; now, therefore,

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. 1.  The Division of Child and Family Services of the

1-2  Department of Human Resources shall establish a pilot program to study

1-3  the literacy of juvenile offenders in the State of Nevada. The program must

1-4  provide instruction in reading to juvenile offenders by using the “Action

1-5  Reading” curriculum, an approach also used for the same purpose in

1-6  Arizona with successful results.

1-7    2.  Juvenile offenders who are eligible to participate in the pilot

1-8  program include:

1-9    (a) Juvenile offenders placed on probation in Washoe County or Carson

1-10  City; and

1-11    (b) Juvenile offenders detained at the China Spring Youth Camp in

1-12  Douglas County or the Western Nevada Regional Youth Facility in Lyon

1-13  County.

1-14    3.  Juvenile offenders eligible to participate in the pilot program

1-15  pursuant to subsection 2 must be tested within 2 days after intake to

1-16  determine their proficiency in reading. Only juvenile offenders whose test

1-17  scores indicate that they are reading below their grade level may be

1-18  selected to participate in the pilot program.

1-19    4.  Juvenile offenders selected to participate in the pilot program must

1-20  be instructed by paid or volunteer staff members of the China Spring Youth

1-21  Camp or the Western Nevada Regional Youth Facility who:

1-22    (a) Have earned a high school diploma or a general equivalency

1-23  diploma;

1-24    (b) Have the ability to pass any reading test that will be administered as

1-25  part of the “Action Reading” curriculum; and

1-26    (c) Successfully complete the training required to qualify as a tutor for

1-27  the “Action Reading” curriculum.

1-28    5.  A parent or legal guardian of a juvenile offender selected to

1-29  participate in the pilot program may also participate in the pilot program if

1-30  the parent or legal guardian:

1-31    (a) Is found to have difficulty with reading and comprehending reading

1-32  material; or

1-33    (b) Is willing to provide assistance as a parent or legal guardian in a

1-34  paratutorial capacity.

1-35  A parent or legal guardian who participates in the pilot program pursuant to

1-36  this subsection must pay a fee of $20.

1-37    Sec. 2.  1.  There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund

1-38  to the Division of Child and Family Services of the Department of Human

2-1  Resources for the establishment of the pilot program pursuant to section 1

2-2  of this act:

2-3  For the fiscal year 2001-2002.............. $125,000

2-4  For the fiscal year 2002-2003.............. $125,000

2-5    2.  The money appropriated by subsection 1 must cover the following

2-6  costs:

2-7    (a) A 2-day training session for each staff member from the China

2-8  Spring Youth Camp and the Western Nevada Regional Youth Facility who

2-9  will serve as a tutor to instruct the juvenile offenders selected to participate

2-10  in the pilot program.

2-11    (b) Per diem allowances and travel expenses associated with

2-12  participation in the 2-day training session for each tutor.

2-13    (c) The salary for a master tutor who is trained to present the “Action

2-14  Reading” curriculum.

2-15    (d) Travel expenses for the master tutor to carry out his duties,

2-16  including, without limitation, making weekly visits to the China Spring

2-17  Youth Camp and the Western Nevada Regional Youth Facility to discuss

2-18  with the tutors the progress of the juvenile offenders who are participating

2-19  in the pilot program and identify any additional training that the tutors may

2-20  require.

2-21    (e) The salary for a research assistant to carry out such duties as

2-22  gathering and compiling data which will be used to monitor the progress of

2-23  the pilot program.

2-24    (f) Other miscellaneous costs, including, without limitation, the

2-25  purchase of supplemental or updated information applicable to the “Action

2-26  Reading” curriculum, and travel expenses and honorarium for one or more

2-27  developers of the “Action Reading” curriculum to train the master tutor

2-28  and the other tutors who are providing instruction to the juvenile offenders

2-29  participating in the pilot program on new innovations or additions to the

2-30  curriculum.

2-31    3.  The sums appropriated by subsection 1 are available for either fiscal

2-32  year. Any balance of those sums must not be committed for expenditure

2-33  after June 30, 2003, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all

2-34  payments of money committed have been made.

2-35    Sec. 3.  The Division of Child and Family Services of the Department

2-36  of Human Resources shall:

2-37    1.  Prepare a written evaluation of the pilot program, including, without

2-38  limitation, a comparison of the reading levels of those juvenile offenders

2-39  who participated in the pilot program with the reading levels of pupils at

2-40  the same grade levels who are enrolled in public and private schools in the

2-41  State of Nevada; and

2-42    2.  On or before February 1, 2003, submit the written evaluation to the

2-43  Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 72nd

2-44  session of the Nevada Legislature.

2-45    Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon passage and approval.

 

2-46  H