CA AB2186

Establishes the Youth Emergency Telephone Referral Project in the California Emergency Management Agency, administered through direct implementation or contracts with California nonprofit corporations.

Requires the project to operate a statewide 24-hour toll-free youth emergency hotline providing crisis counseling, referrals to shelter/meals/clothing/counseling services, and message relay for youth at risk of running away, who have run away, or who are homeless.

Mandates counseling services be free, nonthreatening, confidential, and provided by trained volunteer or paid staff, with exceptions only when caller health/safety requires contact with law enforcement or medical services.

Requires the California Emergency Management Agency to supervise contracted nonprofits for compliance, establish a toll-free number with efficient service providers, and publicize the service through media and public service announcements.

Repeals Chapter 1614 of the Statutes of 1984 and relocates the project from the Office of Criminal Justice Planning, removing the requirement to headquarter in Sacramento.