Alternative treatment facilities for youth.

Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act (the act) , provides for the licensure and regulation of community care and residential facilities by the State Department of Social Services. Under existing law, a violation of any of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. This bill would define "private nontraditional alternative treatment facility for youth," for purposes of the act. The bill would prohibit a person, firm, partnership, association organization, or corporation from operating, establishing, managing, conducting, or maintaining these type of treatment facilities unless licensing provisions are met and components of the program are accredited by an approved organization, as specified. The bill would prohibit a private nontraditional alternative treatment facility for youth from using corporal punishment, as defined. By adding private nontraditional alternative treatment facilities for youth to the act, this bill would create a new crime and impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.