PRINTER'S NO. 2926
No. 2198 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY EVANS, CALTAGIRONE, ROEBUCK, RIEGER, BLAUM, HAYDEN, WILLIAMS, CARN, WAMBACH, FOX, YANDRISEVITS, COLAIZZO, STUBAN, RYBAK, BELFANTI, VEON, PISTELLA, LINTON, FARGO, FREEMAN, GLADECK, LANGTRY, WOGAN, RAYMOND, TIGUE, NOYE, McCALL, J. L. WRIGHT, VROON, KOSINSKI, LUCYK, KASUNIC, ITKIN, FAIRCHILD, MAINE, GIGLIOTTI, HERSHEY, BATTISTO, BISHOP, PESCI, MELIO, HAGARTY, D. F. CLARK, JOSEPHS, McVERRY, TRELLO, BROUJOS, BUSH, LEVDANSKY, DIETTERICK, GEIST AND HERMAN, DECEMBER 13, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON YOUTH AND AGING, DECEMBER 13, 1989
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An 2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public 3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," authorizing motivational 4 boot camp programs at youth development centers; and making 5 an appropriation. 6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 7 hereby enacts as follows: 8 Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known 9 as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to 10 read: 11 Section 347. Motivational Boot Camp Programs.--(a) The 12 following words and phrases when used in this section shall have 13 the meanings given to them in this section unless the context 14 clearly indicates otherwise: 15 "Motivational boot camp" means a program in which eligible 16 delinquent minors are selected by a youth development center to
1 participate for a period of six months in motivational boot camp 2 programs which shall provide for rigorous physical activity, 3 intensive regimentation and discipline, substance abuse 4 rehabilitation therapy and programming certified by the 5 Department of Health, education, ventilation therapy, vocational 6 training and prerelease counseling. 7 (b) There are hereby established at Youth Development 8 Centers within the Department of Public Welfare motivational 9 boot camp programs. The Secretary of Public Welfare, guided by 10 consideration for the safety of the community and the welfare of 11 the inmate, shall promulgate rules and regulations for the 12 program. These rules and regulations shall reflect the purpose 13 of the program and shall include, but not be limited to, 14 selection criteria, inmate discipline, programming and 15 supervision, and program structure and administration. The 16 department shall also provide four weeks of intensive training 17 for all staff prior to the start of their involvement with the 18 program. 19 (c) For each youth development center, the secretary shall 20 appoint or cause to be appointed a motivational boot camp 21 selection committee, which shall meet on a regularly scheduled 22 basis to review all applications for the program. 23 (d) Motivational boot camp programs may be established only 24 at intensive incarceration youth development facilities 25 classified by the secretary as motivational boot camp 26 facilities. 27 (e) The department shall conduct an ongoing evaluation of 28 the program to ensure that the programmatic objectives are met. 29 The department shall undertake studies and prepare reports 30 periodically on the impact of the program to the appropriate 19890H2198B2926 - 2 -
1 committees of the House of Representatives and of the Senate 2 responsible for conducting and supervising legislative oversight 3 responsibility. 4 (f) An eligible inmate may make an application to the 5 motivational boot camp selection committee for permission to 6 participate in the motivational boot camp program. 7 (g) If the selection committee determines that an inmate's 8 participation in the program is consistent with the safety of 9 the community, the welfare of the applicant and the rules and 10 regulations of the department, the committee shall forward the 11 application to the secretary or his designee for approval or 12 disapproval. 13 (h) Applicants may not participate in the motivational boot 14 camp program unless they agree to be bound by all the terms and 15 conditions thereof and indicate their agreement by signing a 16 memorandum of the program immediately below a statement reading 17 as follows: 18 I accept the foregoing program and agree to be bound by 19 the terms and conditions thereof. I understand that my 20 participation in the program is a privilege that may be 21 revoked at any time at the sole discretion of the 22 secretary. I understand that I am also provided with the 23 right to terminate, at any time, my involvement in the 24 program. I understand that I must successfully complete 25 the entire program to obtain a certificate of earned 26 eligibility upon the completion of said program, and, in 27 the event that I do not successfully complete said 28 program, for any reason, I will be transferred to a 29 nonintensive incarceration correctional facility to 30 continue service of my sentence. 19890H2198B2926 - 3 -
1 (i) Participation in the motivational boot camp program 2 shall be a privilege. Nothing contained in this section may be 3 construed to confer upon any inmate the right to participate or 4 continue to participate therein. 5 (j) Upon the inmate's successful completion of the program, 6 the department shall notify the sentencing court of the 7 participant's success in the program, whereupon the court may 8 issue an order modifying the disposition of the sentence and 9 place the participant on probation. If the conditions of 10 probation are violated, the court may revoke probation and make 11 such disposition as it deems necessary. 12 Section 2. The sum of $5,000,000, or as much thereof as may 13 be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Public 14 Welfare for the fiscal year July 1, 1990, to June 30, 1991, to 15 carry out the provisions of this act. 16 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. L4L67JRW/19890H2198B2926 - 4 -