Juvenile offenders: tattoo removal.

The Youth Authority Act provides for the detention and confinement of youthful offenders by the Division of Juvenile Facilities of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Existing law establishes a pilot program requiring the Division of Juvenile Facilities to purchase 2 medical laser devices for the removal of tattoos, as specified, from eligible participants who are at-risk youth, ex-offenders, and current or former gang members, as specified. Existing law further establishes the California Voluntary Tattoo Removal Program, which serves individuals between 14 and 24 years of age, inclusive, who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or county probation departments, who are on parole or probation, or who are in a community-based organization serving at-risk youth, through a competitive grant process, as specified. This bill would expand these tattoo removal programs to serve individuals who were tattooed for identification in trafficking or prostitution and are in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or county probation departments, who are on parole or probation, or who are in a specified community-based organization. The bill would also express the intent of the Legislature to encourage the Board of State and Community Corrections to extend current federal funding, if available, to programs serving individuals from 14 and 24 years of age, inclusive, who were tattooed for identification in trafficking or prostitution.