Bill to Rescue Probation Camps OKd by Key Panel : Assembly: The measure would allocate $11 million for 18 facilities. Officials say it’s needed to keep thousands of dangerous youths from being freed.

The powerful Assembly Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would provide $33 million next year for youth probation camps, including about $11 million to potentially save 18 of Los Angeles County’s 19 camps from closing due to budget cuts.

Los Angeles County officials have been lobbying for such a bailout from the state, saying it is the only way they can keep the camps open and prevent thousands of dangerous youthful offenders from being let loose on the streets.

Because of state and county budget problems, the county has been unable to find the $60 million a year needed to run the camps, many of which are in the mountains around the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys. County officials already are trying to find funds to keep the camps open until June.

The bill approved in committee Wednesday, sponsored by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Brentwood) still must gain the support of not only the full Assembly and state Senate, but Gov. Pete Wilson. And it must do so before mid-May if the money is to reach the county in time to keep the camps open in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, county officials said.

Wilson has said in the past that the camps are a county responsibility, and not deserving of a state bailout. But Friedman said the alternative, sending the youthful convicts to more costly state facilities run by the California Youth Authority, would cost the state millions of dollars a year.

“I’m quite encouraged by the bipartisan unanimous vote,� Friedman said. “I think it sends a strong message to the governor and the county that the Legislature is committed to saving the cost-effective probation camp program. It is absolutely irrational to oppose saving the camps on fiscal grounds--the camps save money.�

Friedman said the money would probably come out of the budget for the state corrections system. Some money might come from the budget of the CYA, a logical source since the agency would handle the young offenders if the probation camps close, he said.

The bill, AB 799, is set to go to the full Assembly next Thursday, and Friedman said he hopes it will reach Wilson by mid-May.

The camps house about 2,000 juvenile offenders at a time, or 4,000 a year. About 40% of the youths have been convicted of homicides, attempted murder, rape, carjackings and other violent crimes, county officials said. The county’s chief probation officer, Barry Nidorf, was in Sacramento lobbying for the bill and was unavailable for comment.

Supervisor Ed Edelman, chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said he wants to keep the camps open, but said the county has no money to do so and added he is skeptical that Wilson will change his mind. “It’s not realistic to count on the governor signing the legislation,� he said. “He’s made it very clear the state cannot help in its present fiscal situation.�

After voting 3 to 2 to reject a motion by Edelman to begin closing a quarter of the camps, and debating several other proposals, the board put off a final vote until next Tuesday.

But the board did vote 4 to 1 to instruct interim Chief Administrative Officer Harry Hufford to look for $4.6 million in the budget so the camps can be run through June 30. And the board agreed to look into a proposal by Supervisor Gloria Molina to seek the Legislature’s permission to allow it to raise court filing fees. Molina said such a move could bring the county as much as $20 million a year to help keep the camps open.