Category: legislation

legislation, Pathways to Higher Education

Youth Law Center 2023 Advocacy for Impact: Part 2. Juvenile Justice Systems in California and Nationwide

The Youth Law Center’s advocacy work to change systems through impact litigation, movement lawyering, policy...

December 30, 2023

Help Us Build Pathways from Youth Incarceration to Higher Education

Help Us Build Pathways from Youth Incarceration to Higher Education Children and youth throughout the United...

September 6, 2023

juvenile justice, legislation, Pathways to Higher Education

Youth Law Center and Partner Organizations in Tennessee Achieve Legislative Victories for Juvenile Justice Against All O...

"When we first started advocating against punitive juvenile justice legislation in Tennessee, we were told...

October 5, 2022

YLC Celebrates the Passage of AB 102 to Expand Dual Enrollment

New Law Creates Steps Toward Educational Equity for Youth In California’s Juvenile Justice System Youth Law...

October 18, 2021

legislation, press

Victory! AB 1140 Signed into Law

YLC joins other advocates in celebrating Governor Newsom’s signing of Assemblymember Robert Rivas’ Assembly Bill...

September 9, 2021

foster care, foster youth, legislation, press

YLC Supporting Legislation That Will Extend Access to Chafee Services Until Age 27

“The pandemic has intensified every inequity for youth exiting foster care to crisis levels --...

April 9, 2021

YLC Sponsoring AB 1140

YLC is proud to co-sponsor Assembly Bill 1140, authored by Assemblymember Robert Rivas, which would...

March 30, 2021

YLC submits comments to CDSS on proposed budget trailer

YLC recently submitted comments to the CDSS on the initial print version of the proposed budget...

January 6, 2021

education, legislation

Congress passes legislation that will make it easier for students to get financial aid!

Congress has passed legislation that will greatly simplify the financial aid application process by 2023,...

August 24, 2020

YLC joins amicus brief in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia

YLC is proud to sign on to an amicus brief in Fulton v. City of...

June 29, 2020

Victory! Senate Bill 912 Moves Forward

Senate Bill 912, co-sponsored by YLC and authored by Senator Jim Beall, is continuing to...

June 29, 2020

Victory! CA Governor Signs Budget to Extend Foster Care

Advocacy from YLC and other advocate partners to create a lifeline for youth in foster care who were imminently facing...

April 29, 2020

Support the #UpChafee campaign to meet urgent needs of transition aged youth in foster care

YLC, along with a coalition of national advocacy groups, has launched the #UpChafee Campaign to...

April 27, 2020

YLC urges California lawmakers to create a new social safety net for transition-aged foster youth

YLC sent a letter to California lawmakers this week outlining key policy recommendations necessary to...

April 3, 2020

Advocacy groups launch #UpChafee campaign urging Congress to take action for youth in foster care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, DC (April 3, 2020) -- Child welfare advocates, policy partners, and young...

December 20, 2019

Fact sheets on two juvenile justice education bills signed into law in CA

These fact sheets provide basic information about Senate Bill 716 and Assembly Bill 1354 both...

October 19, 2019

Breaking News: California Governor signs two YLC-sponsored bills to promote educational opportunity for juvenile justice...

Last week, California's Governor Newsom signed into law two Youth Law Center-sponsored bills, ensuring improved...

May 17, 2019

CA Assembly Bill 1354 (Gipson) moves to Assembly floor for floor vote!

California Assembly Bill 1354, which will provide oversight of education transitions for youth leaving juvenile...

May 17, 2019

YLC working on costs concerns related to CA Senate Bill 716

Youth Law Center has been working closely with Democratic State Senator Holly Mitchell's office, the...

April 10, 2019

SB716 Gains Support!

A state senate bill to ensure postsecondary education opportunities for high school graduates in juvenile...

October 3, 2018

Breaking: YLC-sponsored AB 2448 signed into law!

On Sunday evening, September 30, 2018, Governor Brown signed Youth Law Center-sponsored Assembly Bill 2448 authored...

November 10, 2016

Victory: Prop 57 Abolishes Direct File in Adult Court

After years of advocacy to eliminate the practice of prosecutors directly filing juvenile cases in...

October 5, 2016

New Law Protects Foster Youth from Unfair Detention

The Youth Law Center is pleased that Governor Brown has signed AB 2813 by Assemblymember...

October 5, 2016

Victory for Youth Exiting Foster Care

On September 25, Governor Brown signed into law AB 1849 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson. This...

October 1, 2016

Trauma Screening Bill for At-Risk Children Vetoed

Governor Brown dealt a serious set-back to children in foster care in vetoing SB 1466,...

October 1, 2016

Governor Vetoes Bill Limiting Use of Out of State Group Homes

Youth Law Center is disappointed by the Governor’s veto of AB 2005, as we believe...

September 24, 2016

Bill Signed to Remove Graduation Barriers for At-Risk Youth

On September 22, 2016, Governor Brown signed into law AB 2306 by Assemblyman Jim Frazier,...

September 23, 2016

YLC Works to Ensure Trauma Screening for At-Risk Youth

Childhood trauma is the leading public health issue of our time and one that disproportionately...

September 22, 2016

Urge Governor Brown to Sign AB 2005

Urge the Governor to sign AB 2005 so California can have more informed and careful...

October 13, 2015

Governor Brown Signs Landmark Child Welfare Bill

YLC celebrates Governor Brown's signing of AB 403, a landmark bill that will move child...

October 13, 2015

Governor Brown Signs Juvenile Defender Training Bill

YLC celebrates the signing of AB 703 (Bloom) by Governor Brown, which we co-sponsored with...

September 22, 2015

Action Alert on Congregate Care Bill

Tell Governor Brown Children in Foster Care Deserve Families, Not Institutions --Now is the time...

August 25, 2015

Judge Orders Compliance with Flores Settlement by Oct. 23

United States District Court judge Dolly Gee ordered the Department of Homeland Security and other...

August 11, 2015

Judge Rules for Immigrant Children

United States District Court Judge Dolly Gee has ruled that immigrant children who are accompanied by...

May 1, 2015

President Obama Names May 2015 National Foster Care Month

Recognizing that “Children are best raised in families, not institutions,” President Barak Obama on April...

April 17, 2015

The California Senate Judiciary Committee Approves SB 12

The California Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved SB 12 on April 14, 2015. SB 12 is...

April 16, 2015

YLC Co-Sponsors Bill to Extend Foster Care Benefits

Youth Law Center and the Alliance for Children Rights have co-sponsored SB 12, a bill...

March 28, 2015

YLC Reduces Group Care in Florida

YLC is partnering with foster families, foster youth and other advocates to support new Florida...

February 24, 2015

Legislation Seeks to End Juvenile Solitary Confinement

YLC staff attorney Sue Burrell was interviewed by San Diego CityBeat in relation to legislation...

October 29, 2014

YLC on Harsh Discipline for Truants

The Center for Public Integrity interviewed Staff Attorney Sue Burrell in connection with its investigation...

October 27, 2014

Governor Signs AB 338 Protecting Crossover Youth

Governor Jerry Brown recently signed into law AB 388 (Chesbro) requiring oversight on the use...

October 21, 2014

Governor Signs AB 2276 Ensuring Reenrollment Rights

On September 30, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 2276 (Bocanegra), a bill that addresses...

October 21, 2014

education, foster care, juvenile justice, legislation

Governor Signs SB 1111 Ensuring Educational Placement Rights

On September 29, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1111 (Lara), a comprehensive bill that...

June 30, 2014

Governor Signs Bill Banning Incarceration of Truant Youths

On June 27, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1296 (Leno), banning incarceration as a...

June 26, 2014

Mandatory Minimums Dropped from S.B. 838

After intensive efforts by a broad group of agencies and organizations, the provisions of S.B....

June 23, 2014

juvenile justice, legislation, press

Youth Law Center Weighs In on S.B. 838

The San Jose Mercury News interviewed YLC Staff Attorney Sue Burrell about S.B. 838, a...

April 9, 2014

juvenile justice, legislation, press

The Legislature’s Role in CA Juvenile Justice Reform

YLC Staff Attorney Sue Burrell was invited to write a guest blog for the National...

February 21, 2014

YLC Supports Therapeutic Foster Care Bills

YLC has joined a long list of national and state organizations to support federal legislation...

September 24, 2013

Governor Signs Sentencing Review Law Co-Sponsored by YLC

On September 16, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed S.B. 260 -- historic sentencing review legislation. ...

May 23, 2013

HELP Separated Children’s Act Supported by YLC

The HELP Separated Children’s Act, supported by the Youth Law Center, has passed the Senate...

April 26, 2013

YLC Endorses SSI Restoration Act, H.R. 1601

The Youth Law Center has endorsed the SSI Restoration Act, H.R. 1601, introduced by Representative...

April 24, 2013

YLC Testifies on S.B. 260 – Sentencing Review

On April 22, 2013, Staff Attorney Sue Burrell testified in the California Senate Appropriations Committee...

April 4, 2013

advocacy resources, juvenile justice, legislation

YLC Testifies on Defender Training Bill

On April 2, 2013, YLC Staff attorney Sue Burrell testified in California’s Senate Public Safety...

February 8, 2013

AB 12 and Probation Involved Youth Caregiver Webinar Series

The Youth Law Center is hosting a four-part series of webinars on AB 12, California’s...

October 20, 2011

Recent Legislation Supported by YLC

Governor Brown signed a number of bills this month that we supported and will help...

February 8, 2011

Nebraska Legislation Based on Report Co-Authored by YLC

Nebraska Sen. Mark Christensen introduced a bill in the state legislature on January 19, 2011,...

November 9, 2010

YLC Analysis of DJJ Parole Realignment to the Counties

On October 19, 2010, the Public Safety budget trailer bill, A.B. 1628, was signed into...

September 30, 2010

Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs A.B. 12

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 30, 2010 Contact: Aaron McLear Rachel Arrezola 916-445-4571 Gov. Schwarzenegger Takes...

January 20, 2010

YLC Joins Effort to Protect Medicaid for Youth in the JJ System

YLC has joined other state and national organizations to urge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to...

December 4, 2009

SB 1147 Comments

YLC and the Western Center on Law and Poverty submitted comments on draft SB 1147...

October 2, 2009

Letter to Senator Debbie Stabenow

The Youth Law Center joined with over 35 national child welfare and mental organizations to...

April 10, 2009

advocacy resources, foster care, legislation

YLC Supporting AB 154, AB 47 and SB114

Additional child welfare bills that the Youth Law Center is supporting are AB 154 that will inform...

April 9, 2009

YLC Co-Sponsoring AB 12

YLC is co-sponsoring AB 12, which will extend foster care benefits to youth after the...

April 9, 2009

YLC Supporting AB 938

YLC is supporting AB 938, which provides for early identification and notification of relatives of...

March 16, 2009

Governor Schwarzenegger’s Support of AB 12

In his March 9, 2009, press conference, Governor Schwarzenegger issued a statement of support for...

October 2, 2008

SB 1147 Signed

This week, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law S.B. 1147 - Medi-Cal for Juveniles. As a...

September 18, 2008

juvenile justice, legislation, press

Proposition 6’s Answer to Safety Issues: Jail, Jail and More Jail

By Sue Burrell | Daily Journal — FORUM COLUMNOn this November's crowded initiative ballot, voters will encounter a reassuringly...

April 4, 2008