Juvenile halls: wireless communication devices.

Existing law makes it a crime for a person in a local correctional facility to possess a wireless communication device who is not authorized to possess that item. Existing law makes it a crime, with exceptions, for a person to knowingly bring or send into, or to knowingly assist in bringing into, or sending into, any county juvenile hall, ranch, camp, or forestry camp, or for a person who is confined in any of those institutions to possess, a prohibited controlled substance, a firearm, weapon, or explosive of any kind, a tear gas or tear gas weapon, or an alcoholic beverage, as specified. Existing law requires the posting of a sign at the entrance of those institutions specifying the prohibited conduct and the penalties. This bill would make it a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, for a person to knowingly bring or send into, or to knowingly assist in bringing into, or sending into, any county juvenile hall, ranch, camp, or forestry camp a wireless communication device, as specified, who is not authorized to possess that item. By creating a new crime, and by increasing the duties of local officials relating to the posting of a sign specifying the new crime, the bill would 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.