(a)
A juvenile home, ranch, camp, or forestry camp may receive or contain a maximum of 125 children at any one time if the county has determined that there is a consistent need for juvenile home, ranch, camp, or forestry camp placements which exceeds the beds available in the county. Any county desiring to expand the capacity of a juvenile home, ranch, camp, or forestry camp pursuant to this section shall certify to the Board of Corrections that the facility to be expanded will continue to meet the minimum standards adopted and prescribed pursuant to Section 885 during the period of expanded capacity.
(b)
(1)The Legislature reaffirms its belief that juvenile ranches, camps, forestry camps, and other residential treatment facilities should be small enough to provide individualized guidance and treatment for juvenile offenders which enables them to return to their families and communities as productive and law abiding citizens. Consistent with this principle and upon demonstration of exceptional need, a juvenile ranch, camp, or forestry camp may receive or contain a maximum population in excess of 125 children at any one time if the Board of Corrections has approved that expanded capacity pursuant to the following procedure:
(A)
The county shall submit an application to the Board of Corrections, endorsed by the board of supervisors, identifying the capacity requested and the reasons why the additional capacity is needed. The application shall include the county’s plan to ensure that the facility will, with the additional capacity, comply with applicable minimum standards and maintain adequate levels of onsite staffing, program, and other services for children in the facility.
(B)
The Board of Corrections shall review any application received under this subdivision and shall approve or deny the application based on a determination whether the county has demonstrated its ability to comply with minimum standards and maintain adequate staffing, program, and service levels for children in the expanded facility. In its review, the board shall consider any public comment that may be submitted while the application is pending. The board may approve an application with conditions, including a capacity below the requested number, remodeling or expansion of units or living quarters, staffing ratios in excess of those required by minimum standards, or other adjustments of program or procedure deemed appropriate by the board for a facility operating with a capacity in excess of 125 children. The board shall ensure that the staffing, program, and service levels are increased commensurate with the increased risks to residents and the staff that are a result of the expanded capacity.
(2)
Notwithstanding the inspection schedule set forth in Section 885, the board shall conduct an annual inspection of any facility whose application for expanded capacity under this subdivision is approved. The approval to operate at a capacity above 125 children shall terminate, and the facility shall not thereafter receive or contain more than 125 children, if the board determines after any annual inspection that the facility is not in compliance with minimum standards, that program, staffing, or service levels for children in the expanded facility have not been maintained, or that the county has failed substantially to comply with a condition that was attached to the board’s approval of the expanded capacity.
(c)
The board may provide forms and instructions to local jurisdictions to facilitate compliance with this section.