Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 3.66 Youth Commission

There is created the Los Angeles County Youth Commission, hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the "Commission."

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

The purpose of the Commission is to:

A.

Provide a platform for policy, practice, and service delivery to be informed and shaped by the lived experiences of people impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems;

B.

Provide leadership to effect transformative change for youth in Los Angeles County; and

C.

Focus on the policies, practices, budgets, and programs of the Los Angeles County child welfare and juvenile justice systems, which include the Department of Children and Family Services, the Probation Department, and all other youth and family-serving County departments.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

A.

The Commission shall have fifteen members and may exercise an option to increase its membership to nineteen members after one year, if approved by the Board of Supervisors (hereinafter referred to as the Board). Five members shall be selected by the Board, one by each Supervisor; the remaining members shall be recommended to the Board after being chosen by the Commission through an application and interview process and shall be subject to Board approval. Each member shall be at least eighteen years of age and referred to as "Commissioner"; and

B.

Regardless of how they were selected, all commissioners shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

In appointing and selecting members for the Commission, desirable qualifications include individuals who:

A.

Have lived experience with the child welfare system or the juvenile justice system; and

B.

Reflect the diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and life experiences of persons involved with those systems.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

A.

To create staggered tenures of commissioners, after the first commission meeting, commissioners shall divide themselves, or if necessary be divided by the Executive Director of the Commission, into two groups (Groups A and B, in equal numbers, or with one more commissioner in Group B if there is an odd number of total commissioners). Group A will serve an initial term of one year and will be eligible to serve one additional two-year term. Group B will serve an initial term of two years and will be eligible to serve one additional two-year term. Thereafter, each new commissioner appointed to the Commission shall serve a two-year term;

B.

Commissioners may serve a maximum of two consecutive full two-year terms, except for commissioners appointed to complete terms pursuant to section C below who may complete the partial term created by a vacancy, plus two additional two-year terms. The Board may, by order, extend this length of service or waive this limit for individual commissioners or the Commission as a whole; and

C.

A commissioner's position on the Commission shall become vacant upon the commissioner's death, resignation, or removal by the Board. In the case of such a vacancy, a successor shall be selected to serve until the position next becomes vacant pursuant to subsection A of this section. If the commissioner being replaced was selected by a Supervisor, the Supervisor will select a replacement. Commissioners selected through the commission application and interview process will be replaced using that process.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

A.

For each regular meeting of the Commission attended, each commissioner shall be paid a stipend of $150;

B.

The Executive Director of the Commission will implement procedures for eligibility and use of additional stipends for participation by commissioners in special meetings and pre-approved official commission-related activities, depending on available funding. Additional opportunities include attending training, conferences, Commission committee meetings, and representing the Commission at events in an official capacity, taking into account the type of activity, the effort required by the commissioner to participate, and affording all commissioners an equitable opportunity to participate;

C.

Commissioners may be approved by the chair or co-chair to attend official commission-related activities for which there is no stipend available; and

D.

The maximum compensation per commissioner per fiscal year is $5,000.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

A.

A majority of commissioners shall constitute a quorum;

B.

The Commission shall adopt bylaws, by a vote of not less than a quorum present, addressing the frequency, time and place of meetings, participation requirements, election and term of chairs, co-chairs and vice chairs, and such other matters deemed necessary for the commission's operation provided that they are not inconsistent with this ordinance or any other law; and

C.

The Commission may amend its bylaws and policies. Amendments must be approved at a meeting by a vote of not less than a quorum present. Notice of proposed amendments and revisions must be provided to all commissioners at least thirty days before such meeting.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

A.

The Commission shall meet monthly for its regular meeting on a date and at a time as stated in the commission's bylaws. The Commission shall meet at least ten times per year, holding at least one regular meeting per month in ten months of the year, with a maximum of twelve regular meetings;

B.

Commission meetings shall be chaired by the commission chair, vice-chair, or co-chairs with the support of the Executive Director of the Commission and staff;

C.

Commission meetings shall comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act and follow Robert's Rules of Order; and

D.

Department Heads or Department Head designees of youth-serving County departments shall attend and participate in commission meetings upon request.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

A.

The Commission shall have a full-time Executive Director who will provide support and guidance to the Commission and be responsible for its administrative management. The Executive Director should have experience promoting and facilitating healthy development and leadership within the Commission's target population;

B.

The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors. If the position is vacated, the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors shall appoint a new Executive Director;

C.

The Executive Director of the Commission shall be responsible, as the administrative head of the commission staff, for implementing and executing the policy and program of the Commission; and

D.

The Commission Services Division of the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors shall provide administrative support to the Commission.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

For administrative purposes, salaries, supplies, and all other costs and expenses shall be allocated in the budgets of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Probation Department.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

A.

The commissioners shall elect a chair and vice-chair or two co-chairs;

B.

The term of each chair, vice-chair, or co-chair shall be for one calendar year after their election, except that they may be removed from such position before completing their term by vote as specified in the bylaws; and

C.

Elections of successor chairs shall take place in a timely manner to provide for uninterrupted commission leadership.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

The Commission shall carry out the following duties, seeking and obtaining information and operating only as permitted by law:

A.

Make recommendations to the Board and County departments regarding policies, agency budgets, programs and practices that impact children, youth, families, and their communities;

B.

Propose to the Board and County departments, new policies, programs, and services that will positively impact children, youth, families, and their communities;

C.

Annually, identify at least three focus areas for concentrated review, analysis, and, where appropriate, commission involvement;

D.

Propose new legislation and advocate and provide recommendations to the Board, consistent with Board policy, regarding existing and proposed legislation impacting children, youth, families, and their communities;

E.

Provide to the Board quarterly status reviews in year one, and an annual report thereafter, apprising it of the Commission's activities and achievements during the year and commenting on the state of County services impacting youth;

F.

Engage with key stakeholders and obtain community input;

G.

Establish a standing Youth Engagement Committee responsible for ensuring that the voices and experiences of youth under the age of eighteen inform the work of the Commission;

H.

Establish a standing Operations Committee that shall manage the process of nominating new commission members;

I.

Should the Commission receive confidential information, abide by all confidentiality laws and maintain the confidentiality of such information by not disclosing any portion to any person unless further disclosure is specifically authorized by court order or state or federal law; and

J.

Work collaboratively with other youth-serving entities to avoid redundancy.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

In compliance with applicable law, County policies and confidentiality and privacy regulations, the Commission shall have the authority to:

A.

Monitor the quality and outcomes of County services provided to children, youth, families, and their communities as well as conditions of facilities, in collaboration with County departments and other bodies with similar responsibilities. This includes participating in authorized site visits and requesting court-authorized interviews through counsel with youths who are recipients of County services;

B.

Solicit input from public, private, and community-based stakeholders regarding County administered or contracted services; convey information received to the Board and to relevant County departments; and, where appropriate, make recommendations. Contact with confined or foster care youth shall be made in compliance with applicable laws;

C.

Collaborate with County departments, other County bodies, and community-based organizations to strengthen existing youth-focused initiatives and create new ones, as necessary. Each youth-serving County department shall identify a liaison to ensure that the Commission can inform departmental initiatives from development through implementation;

D.

Request information from youth-serving County departments, which shall cooperate with the Commission and provide the Commission with information to the extent permitted by law; and

E.

Establish committees, subcommittees or work groups, led by a commissioner or commission staff person, to focus on key issues. These committees, subcommittees, and work groups, with the exception of the Operations Committee, may include people who are not commissioners, such as advocates, community members, experts, and representatives of County departments as designated by their department head. Committees, subcommittees, and work groups shall comply with applicable requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)

The sunset review date for the Commission shall be five years from the effective date of this ordinance.

(Ord. 2020-0043 § 1, 2020.)