Bill Text: CA AB2204 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Prisons: organized sports programming.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2026-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 925, Statutes of 2026. [AB2204 Detail]
Download: California-2025-AB2204-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 2204
CHAPTER 925
An act to add and repeal Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3110) of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, relating to prisons.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 30, 2026.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 30, 2026.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2204, Gabriel.
Prisons: organized sports programming.
Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to administer the state prison system under the direction of the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Existing California constitutional provisions grant the department the authority to award credits earned for good behavior and approved rehabilitative or educational achievements in order to enhance public safety, improve rehabilitation, and avoid the release of prisoners by federal court order.
This bill, the Second Chance Sports Act, would, until January 1, 2036, require the department to
formalize, in consultation with specified individuals and organizations, a policy on organized sports programming. The bill would authorize the department to solicit and accept proposals and negotiate and enter into agreements with specified entities for the purposes of expanding access to sports programming as described above. The bill would establish the Second Chance Sports Fund within the State Treasury. The bill would require the department to seek advisement from the Legislature
on the priorities for utilizing the moneys in the fund. The bill would make funds available, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act, for the above-described purposes. The bill would require the Controller, on or before January 1,
2029, and annually thereafter, to provide a report to the Legislature on the amounts deposited into the fund. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3110) is added to Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, to read:CHAPTER 10. The Second Chance Sports Act
3110.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Studies have shown that an incarcerated person’s participation in sports is positively correlated with reduced rates of recidivism and negative interventions needed from correctional staff, improving safety at facilities, preserving state resources, and enhancing public safety.
(b) Regular participation in sports and physical activities has numerous additional benefits, including increased physical fitness, improved mental health outcomes, and the development of stronger discipline and self-esteem.
(c) Participation in sports also provides opportunities for individuals to develop stronger communication skills, learn to navigate conflict and adversity, and create deeper bonds with teammates, other athletes, and their community.
(d) Sports programming can also serve as an important gateway to participation in educational, therapeutic, vocational, restorative justice, and other rehabilitative programming that supports successful community reintegration and reduces recidivism.
(e) Meaningful rehabilitation policies should be developed in consultation with directly impacted people, including, but not limited to, currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to reduce recidivism and to help individuals more successfully reintegrate into society by requiring the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to create and implement a policy to meaningfully expand access to organized sports programming for incarcerated persons at facilities operated by the department.
3111.
(a) It is the policy of the State of California that participation in organized sports programming is recognized as a form of rehabilitation.(b) (1) On or before January 1, 2028, the department shall formalize a policy on organized sports
programming.
(2) The policy described in paragraph (1) shall be developed in consultation with researchers and experts in sports and rehabilitation, organizations dedicated to criminal justice reform, athletic organizations, including professional and semi-professional sports teams and leagues, department staff, including correctional line staff, and organizations representing incarcerated persons and their families.
(3) In developing the policy described in paragraph (1), the department shall consider all of the following:
(A) The safety of incarcerated persons, correctional line staff, and
other participants.
(B) The appropriate use of state resources and facilities by incarcerated persons.
(C) Eligibility requirements for participation.
(D) Any broader impacts on public safety.
(E) Geographic, climate, and infrastructure differences across department facilities that may affect equitable access to organized sports programming.
(F) How to maximize access to sports programming using existing recreational spaces and infrastructure.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law,
the department may solicit proposals, accept unsolicited proposals, negotiate, and enter into agreements with public or private entities, including, but not limited to, professional sports teams and leagues, the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and private universities for the purpose of expanding access to organized sports programming at facilities operated by the department.
3112.
(a) The Second Chance Sports Fund is hereby established within the State Treasury.(b) Moneys deposited into the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act, to the department to support the expansion of organized sports programming at facilities operated by the department.
(c) The
department shall seek advisement from the Legislature on the priorities for utilizing the moneys made available pursuant to this section.
(d) The fund may receive moneys from any source, including private donations.
(e) The moneys in the fund shall supplement, not replace, existing funding for the programming described in this chapter.
(f) Not more than 5
percent of the moneys made available pursuant to this section shall be utilized for administrative purposes.
(g) (1) On or before January 1, 2029, and annually thereafter, the Controller shall provide a report to the Legislature on the amounts deposited into the fund.
(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
