Juvenile justice commission: hunger survey.

Assembly Member Sharp-Collins proposes new oversight measures to assess and address hunger among youth in California's juvenile detention facilities through regular nutritional surveys and policy recommendations. The legislation requires county juvenile justice commissions to evaluate food access and quality in detention facilities every two years, either directly or in partnership with community organizations.

The mandated surveys will examine whether confined youth under age 26 experience chronic hunger, have access to food between meals, receive adequate time to eat, and receive quality meals. When surveys indicate persistent hunger issues, juvenile justice commissions must recommend county policy changes, considering factors beyond minimum caloric intake. The bill specifically notes that physically active youth, particularly those involved in fire prevention or suppression programs, require additional nutrition to support their activities.

Counties would bear full responsibility for food-related costs under the proposal, with no charges permitted to youth or their families. To ensure transparency, survey results and policy recommendations must be published on juvenile justice commission websites, while county probation departments must document any corrective actions taken in response to findings. The measure includes provisions for state reimbursement to counties for associated costs, subject to review by the Commission on State Mandates.