H.B. 342

1

GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
2 1997 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Raymond W. Short
5 AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION; CLARIFYING
6 IN THE GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION CHAPTER THAT "AT RISK"
7 MEANS "AT RISK FOR GANG INVOLVEMENT"; AND MAKING TECHNICAL
8 CHANGES.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 53A-15-601, as last amended by Chapter 105, Laws of Utah 1995
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
13 Section 1. Section 53A-15-601 is amended to read:
14 53A-15-601. Appropriation for program -- Program requirements -- Distribution
15 of funds to school districts.
16 (1) The Legislature shall provide an annual appropriation from the Uniform School Fund
17 to the State Board of Education for a gang prevention and intervention program designed to help
18 students at-risk [students] for gang involvement stay in school [and], enhance their self-esteem,
19 and improve their intellectual and life skills.
20 (2) The program shall:
21 (a) provide independent gang prevention and intervention both inside and outside of school
22 grounds when necessary, including:
23 (i) meetings with gang members and other students whose activities negatively impact
24 students in the program;
25 (ii) intervening in situations involving gangs that impact students in the program or can
26 result in violence;
27 (iii) in-home visits with families of students in the program designed to encourage parents

1 to become involved in their child's education; and
2 (iv) notifying law enforcement personnel when a particular problem cannot be defused or
3 when required by law; and
4 (b) h [[manage] managing individual case files and [maintain] maintaining profiles on
4a [at-risk ] MAINTAINING REQUIRED INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION INCLUDING PROFILES ON h
5 and high-risk] h [ students ] EACH STUDENT h receiving direct services through the program,
5a including:
6 (i) attendance records;
7 (ii) academic records; and
8 (iii) extra-curricular activities.
9 (3) The program coordinator at each school [must] shall:
10 (a) be on the school grounds during school hours;
11 (b) have received training on gang prevention and intervention strategies in the schools;
12 (c) have an understanding of the cultural backgrounds of gang members and at-risk
13 students and be aware of the potential for gang involvement in all situations; and
14 (d) have a minimum of one year's experience or on-site training in gang related issues
15 inside the schools.
16 (4) Individual schools within each school district interested in providing a gang prevention
17 and intervention program shall apply to the school board for funds.
18 (5) Individual schools shall be required to provide a percentage of the funding necessary
19 for the program in their school, at least one-half of which must be provided through in-kind
20 services. In-kind services may not include office space and support. Percentage requirements
21 shall be as follows:
22 (a) elementary schools, 12%;
23 (b) middle, intermediate, or junior high schools, 18%;
24 (c) high schools, 25%.
25 (6) Individual schools receiving funds may provide the program to their students by
26 contracting with a private entity whose program meets the requirements set out in Subsections (2)
27 and (3).

lilac-February 17, 1997

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Legislative Review Note
as of 1-24-97 5:01 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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