$400K IN PROP. 36 FUNDS COMING

Supervisors Will Decide How It Is Spent In County

San Luis Obispo County will receive more than $400,000 to implement a drug
treatment program required by a new voter initiative.

Proposition 36, approved by 61 percent of the state's voters last year,
takes effect July 1. It requires first- and second-time drug users to be
sent to treatment programs instead of prison or jail.

On Wednesday, the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Program announced
how it will divide $60 million among the counties to prepare for the
program. The counties also will share $120 million each year for the next
five years.

The Board of Supervisors will decide how the money is to be allocated in
each county. The money will likely be split between the probation
departments, which will oversee the cases, and drug treatment programs.

None of the San Luis Obispo County supervisors could be reached for comment
Thursday afternoon. A representative from the county probation office also
was not available.

The $400,571 allocated to San Luis Obispo County is comparable to amounts
offered to similar-sized communities, including Marin, Merced and Santa
Cruz counties.

Los Angeles County received the most money in the state - $15.7 million -
while Alpine County received the least at $77,444.

The allocation from the state was based, in part, on the number of drug
arrests in each county and the drug treatment caseload. In 1999, there were
1,140 drug arrests in San Luis Obispo County, where 58 percent of voters
voted for Proposition 36. The drug treatment caseload was 410.

Proponents of the measure hope the program will treat drug offenders and
prevent them from reoffending, and they think the law will save taxpayer
dollars by keeping drug users out of jail and prison. Opponents say it
allows drug users to avoid being held accountable for their actions, and
they think implementing the programs could prove difficult.

Under the new law, roughly $4,000 would be spent for each patient.