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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07111995 - C98 C.98 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted'this Order on July 11, 1995 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson, Bishop NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Grand Jury Report 95-11, Public Recreation programs - Fingerprinting "Protect the Children" IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Grand Jury Report No. 95-11 be REFERRED to the County Administrator and the Internal Operations Committee. 1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervi ore on the date shown. ATTESTED. PHIL CH OR,C1 rk of the Board Of supervisors and County Administrator cc: County Administrator ,Deputy Internal Operations Committee Grand Jury -- RECEIVED JUN 2 8 1995 CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA CO. A REPORT BY THE 1994-95 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY 1020 Ward Street Martinez, CA 94553 (510)646-2345 Report No. 9511 Contra Costa County PUBLIC RECREATION PROGRAMS - FINGERPRINTING °PROTECT THE CHILDREN" Approved by the Grand Jury: II �}-- Date: co cl(E—I) Clyde Parkhurst Grand Jury Foreman Accepted for Filing: Date: � � 1c.�5 � *ud nDePoel e Superior Court SECTION 933 (C) OF THE CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE §933. Comments and Reports on Grand Jury Recommendations. (c) No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body, and every elective county officer or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility pursuant to Section 914.1 shall comment within 60 days to the presiding judge of the superior court, with an information copy sent to the board of supervisors, on the findings and recommendations pertairang to matters under the control of that county officer or agency head and any agency or agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or controls. In any city and county, the mayor shall also comment on the findines and recommendations. All such comments and reports shall forthwith be submitted to the presiding judge of the superior court who impaneled 'the- grand jury. A copy of all responses to grand jury reports shall be placed on file with the clerk of the public agency and the office of the county clerk, or the mayor when applicable, and shall remain on file in those offices. One copy shall be placed on file with the applicable grand jury final report by, and in the control of the currently impan- eled grand jury, where it shall be maintained for a minimum of five years. Leg.H. 1961 ch. 1284, 1963 ch. 674, 1974 chs. 393, 1396, 1977 chs. 107, 187, 1980 ch. 543, 1981 ch. 203, 1982 ch. 1408 §5, 1985 ch. 221 §1, effective July 12, 1985, 1987 ch. 690 §1, 1988 ch. 1297. Cross-References Admissible evidence. Penal Code §939.6. "Grand jury" defined. Penal Code §888. Grand jury report to be based only on own investigation. Penal Code §939.9. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PUBLIC RECREATION PROGRAMS - FINGERPRINTING "PROTECT THE CHILDREN" INTRODUCTION: On September 28, 1992, the Governor signed Assembly Bill No. 2986, Chapter 1097, an act to add Section 10911.5 to the Education Code, relating to public recreation programs. It became effective January 1, 1993. It reads in part: 10911.5(a) Commencing with January 1, 1993, every public recreation program employer shall require each employee having direct contact with minors to immediately submit, or in the case of a new employee, to submit on or before the first day of his or her employment, one set of fingerprints to the Department of Justice. This requirement is a condition of employment. 10911.5(b) For the purpose of this section "public recreation program employee' means a public recreation program that is exempt from licensure pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 1596.792 of the Health and Safety Code. This bill requires the State Department of Justice furnish a criminal record summary of the new employee, if found, to the public recreation program employer. AB 2986 requires the State to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the State. The Contra Costa County Grand Jury investigated a random sampling totalling approximately 50 percent of Contra Costa city agencies to verify compliance with these regulations. FINDINGS: The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury finds that: 1. Some cities in Contra Costa County have failed to comply with this law. 2. The following cities were out of compliance: A) Antioch. B) Brentwood. C) Pittsburg. D) Richmond. Page 1 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PUBLIC RECREATION PROGRAMS - FINGERPRINTING "PROTECT THE CHILDREN" Findings continued... 3. A seminar addressing AB 2986 was conducted by the California Park and Recreation Society in the latter part of January 1995. 4. Of the cities the Grand Jury reviewed, the Public recreation program employers were not aware of the requirements of this law. 5. Of the cities the Grand Jury reviewed, city attorneys or risk managers of the non- compliant cities had not provided information and/or guidelines to the public recreation program employees. CONCLUSIONS: The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury concludes that: 1. It has been two years since this regulation became law and several cities in Contra Costa County still do not comply. 2. As soon as they became aware of their non-compliant status, the cities of Pittsburg and Richmond submitted and implemented a well prepared plan of compliance and implementation. RECOMMENDATIONS: The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury recommends that: 1. Within 60 days, all cities and public recreation program employers review and modify their employment policies to comply with the law (AB 2986) that affects working with minors. 2. Within 60 days, Risk managers and public recreation program employers immediately re-examine, interpret and clarify city policies and practices to bring them into compliance with State laws which affect any activities when working with minors, including AB2986. Advice of City Attorneys may be necessary. COMMENTS: Many of the cities contacted claimed ignorance of this law. Ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse for non-compliance. Page 2