Section 1916.

(a) The California Voluntary Tattoo Removal Program is hereby established.

(b) To the extent that funds are appropriated for this purpose, the Board of State and Community Corrections may administer the program.

(c) The program shall be designed to serve individuals between 14 and 24 years of age, who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or county probation departments, who are on parole or probation, or who are in a community-based organization serving at-risk youth.

(d) The board shall award grants in a competitive manner and on a geographically diverse basis, serving both northern and southern California.

(e) The Division of Juvenile Facilities of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, county probation departments, community-based organizations, and relevant service providers may apply for the grants authorized by this section.

(f) Funds appropriated for purposes of this section shall be limited to federal funds.

(g) Tattoo removals shall be performed by licensed clinicians who, to the extent feasible, provide their services at a discounted rate, or free of charge.

(h) Grantees shall serve individuals who have gang-related tattoos or tattoos received for identification in trafficking and prostitution that are visible in a professional environment and who are recommended for the program by Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation representatives, parole agents, county probation officers, community-based organizations, or service providers.

(i) Individuals who have gang-related tattoos or tattoos received for identification in trafficking and prostitution that may be considered unprofessional and are visible in a professional work environment, who meet the criteria of subdivision (c), and who meet any of the following criteria may be eligible for participation in the program:

(1) Are actively pursuing secondary or postsecondary education.

(2) Are seeking employment or participating in workforce training programs.

(3) Are scheduled for an upcoming job interview or job placement.

(4) Are participating in a community or public service activity.

(j) Use of funding by grantees shall be limited to the following:

(1) The removal of gang-related tattoos or tattoos received for identification in trafficking and prostitution.

(2) Maintenance or repair of tattoo removal medical devices.

(3) Contracting with licensed private providers to offer the tattoo removal service.

(k) Grantees may also seek additional federal or private funding to execute the provisions of this section, and use those funds to supplement funding received through the program.

(l) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 746, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2013. Repealed as of January 1, 2017, by its own provisions.)