SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2079

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Twenty-Four

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SENATE, March 19, 2014.

The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities to whom was referred the (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 60) of Richard T. Moore, Chief Steven Wojnar and Peter J. Durant  for legislation relative to services for at risk youth, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2079).

For the committee,

Michael J. Barrett

        FILED ON: 3/19/2014

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2079

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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An Act coordinating services for at-risk youth.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 12 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section 33. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the district attorney in each district may establish, subject to appropriation, a community-based juvenile/youthful justice program for the purposes of ensuring the safety and security of the public and private schools of that district; addressing the problems of juvenile and youthful violence; improving the services available to school-age youth; ensuring the effective use of resources by state and local law enforcement and various state agencies; and promoting collaboration among schools, local and state law enforcement agencies, municipalities, the probation department, and the departments of children and families, youth services, mental health and public health. The program shall assist in the development of school and community-based programs that are designed to prevent violence, including dating and sexual assault, and delinquency, develop techniques for the early identification of at-risk youth, divert non-violent youthful offenders from the juvenile or criminal justice system, and ensure the availability of and access to community-based rehabilitative services including, but not limited to, substance abuse services for youthful offenders when appropriate.