729.12. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 455, Sec. 12.)

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize an Assessment, Orientation, and Volunteer Mentor Pilot Program in San Diego County. The pilot project will operate under the authority of the county behavioral health director in conjunction with the San Diego Juvenile Court and the County of San Diego Probation Department.

(b) Whenever a judge of the San Diego County Juvenile Court or a referee of the San Diego Juvenile Court finds a minor to be a person described in Section 601 or 602 for any reason, the minor may be assessed and screened for drug and alcohol use and abuse; and if the assessment and screening determines the need for drug and alcohol education and intervention, the minor may be required to participate in, and successfully complete, an alcohol and drug orientation, and to participate in, and successfully complete, an alcohol or drug program with a local community-based service provider, as designated by the court.

(c) The Assessment, Orientation, and Volunteer Mentor Pilot Program may operate for a minimum of three years and may screen and assess for drug and alcohol problems, minors who are declared wards of San Diego Juvenile Court.

(d) Drug and alcohol assessments may be conducted utilizing a standardized instrument that shall be approved by the county behavioral health director in conjunction with San Diego Juvenile Court and the San Diego County Probation Department.

(e) Those minors who are determined to have drug and alcohol problems, may be required to participate in, and successfully complete, a drug and alcohol orientation. The orientation may provide drug and alcohol education and intervention, referral to community resources for followup education and intervention and arrange for volunteers to serve as mentors to assist each minor in addressing their drug and alcohol problem. Parents or guardians of minors will have the opportunity to participate in the orientation program in order to help juveniles address drug and alcohol use or abuse problems.

(f) As a condition of probation, each minor may be required to submit to drug testing. Drug testing may be conducted on a random basis by a qualified drug and alcohol service provider in coordination with the county probation department. All contested drug tests may be confirmed by a National Institute for Drug Abuse certified drug laboratory and the findings may be reported to the probation officer for appropriate action. The drug testing protocol may be approved by the county behavioral health director in conjunction with San Diego Juvenile Court and the County of San Diego Probation Department.