Makes it easier to incarcerate children for non-criminal probation violations. Permits public disclosure of a minor's name and an offense allegedly committed prior to any hearing. California already has the highest youth incarceration rate in the nation and the initiative would make it easier to incarcerate even greater numbers of youth in juvenile detention centers as well as adult jails and prisons. The tremendous cost burden to local governments, which pay for juvenile halls and adult jails, could jeopardize local youth service and violence prevention programs. Proposition 26 would reduce the current two-thirds vote requirement to pass local school bonds to a majority vote.
Schools require maintenance and modernization.
Research indicates that students achieve less in school buildings that have too many students for their capacity and are not adequately or safely maintained. An estimated 20 to 30 percent of low birthweight among newborns is caused by smoking during pregnancy. More than 1.4 million kids are exposed to second hand smoke at home. About 150,000 - 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in young children is caused by second hand smoke each year. Children and youth are taking up smoking and suffering the consequences.