Alpine County Chief Probation Officer Brian Lowry and Calaveras County Chief Probation officer Kim Craddock testified in support of SB 1109. Watch the Senator’s presentation and witness testimony here.
State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) today expressed profound disappointment following the Assembly Human Services Committee’s rejection of SB 1109, a measure that had passed every Senate committee and the full Senate unanimously with strong bipartisan support.
SB 1109 would require Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs) to be placed on annual review status by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, if a licensee receives five or more serious “Type A” citations within a year. Type A citations are issued for the most serious violations that pose an immediate risk to health, safety, or personal rights of youth in care. Once a facility demonstrates a full year with fewer than five Type A citations, it would no longer be subject to ongoing annual review.
The bill was developed in direct response to documented problems at Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs in rural counties, including Alpine County, California’s smallest county with roughly 1,150 residents. Alpine County lacks sufficient emergency response infrastructure to respond to incidents where youth are endangered- such as an acute care hospital and adequate law enforcement.
“This bill is the product of many hours of work by local officials focused on public safety and improving the lives of at-risk youths,” said Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil. “It is deeply disappointing that after passing the Senate unanimously and in bipartisan fashion, it was rejected without genuine dialogue, without consideration of amendments, and without a clear explanation. Rural communities deserve the basic tools to hold bad actors accountable and protect both residents and the vulnerable young people these programs are meant to serve. One has to wonder what the true motivation is behind blocking such a reasonable, targeted measure.”
The need for stronger oversight was underscored by recent constituent concerns in other rural counties. Calaveras County has experienced a pattern of serious incidents at a Rite of Passage facility serving challenged youth (13-18), including repeated trespassing and runaways, a student self-harm incident, a student-set fire on May 26, 2026 that destroyed the administration building, and the subsequent illegal dumping of toxic debris, including leaded paint, asbestos, burned plastics, and other hazardous materials, adjacent to their property and near critical water sources, without required permits. These actions have raised serious environmental and public health concerns for the surrounding community.
“We are extremely disappointed that the Assembly Human Services Committee chose not to advance this vital legislation,” said Brian Lowry, Chief Probation Officer, Alpine County who testified in support of SB 1109. “Our small rural counties have limited resources and infrastructure. This bill would have helped ensure that facilities with repeated serious violations receive the heightened scrutiny they deserve. Blocking it without real discussion leaves our communities and the youth placed in these programs more vulnerable.”