Sacramento –The Legislative Budget Conference Committee today adopted a bipartisan anti-gang package that will fund both a statewide anti-gang coordinator and provide $9.5 million for local gang prevention, intervention programs targeting at-risk youth, and re-entry strategies for former gang members coming out of prison or youth facilities. 

Dollar-for-dollar local matching requirements would boost total funding to almost $20 million.

“This package funds the Governor’s proposal for a statewide anti-gang coordinator, but shifts the emphasis to include more strategies that intervene in the lives of kids at-risk of joining gangs or trying to get out of gangs,” said Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez.

“Our approach provides almost $10 million for local education, job training and skills development, family and community services, and other gang prevention programs,” said Assemblywoman Anna M. Caballero, chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention. “But we can double the funding by requiring a dollar-for-dollar match to access state funds.” 

Caballero added:  “Law enforcement tells us again and again, that we can’t beat the gang problem with suppression alone.   This package will be a tremendous boost to cities struggling with gang violence.  We need this kind of statewide commitment to work with local officials to create opportunities for youth to be successful.”
 
The select committee held three hearings over the past month in Los Angeles, Salinas and Oakland, gathering ideas about successful strategies that communities have used to reduce the incidence of youth violence.

The legislative gang package adds a total of $9.5 million to the State Office of Emergency Services.  Los Angeles and cities in the Bay Area and Central Valley that have heavy gang concentrations will receive $3 million in grants.  Other cities can compete for $4.5 million in grants with $2 million in grants available for community-based organizations. 

The local grant funds may not be used for law enforcement suppression activities or front-line police services. 

The joint Senate-Assembly budget conference committee passed the measure with bipartisan support (3-0 vote of the Senate conferees, and 2-1 of the Assembly conferees). 

The proposal will be included in the final budget package that will be sent to each house for adoption, when the conference committee has reached agreement on the 2007-08 budget.  The bill will be sent to the Governor for his signature, following passage by the Legislature.