Juveniles: delinquency.

Senator Menjivar's juvenile justice reform legislation would allow counties with populations over 6 million to delegate certain juvenile court responsibilities to officials overseeing youth development programs. The bill authorizes county boards of supervisors to transfer duties including community supervision and operation of juvenile facilities, while maintaining requirements that peace officer functions remain with law enforcement.

The measure expands access to confidential juvenile case files, permitting designated county officials who receive delegated authorities to review these records. It maintains existing privacy protections while establishing specific protocols for information sharing between juvenile courts, schools, and other authorized entities. School administrators receiving notices about a student's criminal violations must keep such information in separate confidential files and limit dissemination to staff directly supervising the minor.

To protect privacy, the legislation sets penalties for unauthorized disclosure of juvenile information, including misdemeanor charges for school personnel who improperly share details about a minor's case. It also outlines procedures for requesting and reviewing sealed records, with timelines for courts to process petitions and hear objections from interested parties.

The bill preserves core confidentiality requirements around juvenile records while creating targeted exceptions designed to promote rehabilitation through improved communication between juvenile courts, schools, law enforcement and social services agencies. Counties implementing these changes must establish protocols ensuring delegated duties comply with all statutory restrictions.