Bill Text: CA AB1647 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 1647

Bill Title: Veterans treatment courts: grant program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-06-07 - Referred to Coms. on PUB S. and M. & V.A. [AB1647 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB1647-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly May 01, 2023

Amended IN Assembly March 16, 2023

Amended IN Assembly March 15, 2023

Amended IN Assembly March 13, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1647

Introduced by Assembly Member Soria

February 17, 2023

An act to add and repeal Section 68530 to of the Government Code, relating to courts.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1647, as amended, Soria. Veterans treatment courts: grant program.

Existing law establishes a statewide system of courts with a superior court of one or more judges in each county. Existing law authorizes the Judicial Council to prescribe the methods, means, and standards for electronic collection of data related to court administration, practice, and procedure.

Existing law requires a criminal court to make a determination as to whether a defendant who was a member of the United States military may be suffering from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of the person’s service. Existing law allows the court to consider these circumstances in granting probation, referring the defendant to mental health treatment, and granting restorative relief, as provided. Existing law authorizes a court to grant restorative relief to a veteran defendant who was granted probation and who met specified criteria, including successful participation in court-ordered treatment services to address sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems stemming from military service.

This ~~bill~~ bill, until January 1, 2029, would require that, on appropriation by the Legislature, the Judicial Council operate a grant program to establish and support veterans treatment courts or the equivalent services in counties where veterans treatment courts would be inefficient or impracticable. The bill would require the Judicial Council to establish standards and procedures for the operation of veterans courts, and condition the award of grant funds on adherence to those standards and procedures. The bill would require veterans treatment courts that receive grant funds to report information to the Judicial Council, as specified. The bill would also require the Judicial Council to report information to the Legislature, as specified.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 68530 is added to the Government Code, to read:

68530.

(a) The Judicial Council shall, on appropriation by the Legislature, operate a grant program for the establishment and support of veterans treatment courts, and the provision of appropriate equivalent services in counties where, because of a lack of a sufficient veteran population or other court resources, operation of a veterans treatment court is inefficient or impracticable.

(b) The Judicial Council shall establish standards and procedures for the operation of veterans courts, and condition award of funds under this section on adherence to those standards and procedures.

(c) Veterans treatment courts that receive grant funds shall, on July 1, 2025, and on July 1 each year thereafter, report the following information to Judicial Council:
(1) The number of veterans that participated in the veterans treatment court program.
(2) The offenses with which each program participant had been charged or to which each program participant had plead guilty.
(3) The qualifying condition for each program participant who participated in the program.
(4) The number of program participants who completed the program.
(5) The number of program participants who did not complete the program.
(6) The length of time that each program participant spent in the program.
(d) On January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, Judicial Council shall send a report to the Legislature with all of the following information:
(1) The total funds awarded under the grant program.
(2) The amount of funds awarded to each veteran treatment court.
(3) The total funds awarded to appropriate equivalent services in counties without a veterans treatment court.
(4) The specific services to which funds were allocated in counties without a veterans treatment court.
(5) A summary of the information submitted to Judicial Council under subdivision (c).
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.