Bill Text: CA AB2438 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 2438 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Automatic withdrawal of plea.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-05-25 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2438 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2438-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2438

Introduced by Assembly Member Ting

February 14, 2018

An act to amend Sections 1203.4 and 1203.4a of the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2438, as introduced, Ting. Automatic withdrawal of plea.

Existing law allows a defendant to petition to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty in any case in which he or she has fulfilled the conditions of probation and is not then serving a sentence for any offense, on probation for any offense, or charged with the commission of any offense. If granting relief, existing law requires the court to dismiss the accusation or information against the defendant and release him or her from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense, except as provided. Existing law requires a defendant who petitions for a change of plea or setting aside of a verdict to reimburse the court by paying a fee, as specified. These provisions apply to applications for relief filed on or after November 23, 1970.

This bill would instead require the court to automatically withdraw the plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty when the defendant has fulfilled the conditions of probation. The bill would make conforming changes, including deleting the authority to charge the fee for making a petition. The bill would apply these provisions to defendants who have completed probation on or after November 23, 1970.

Existing law allows a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor and not granted probation, and a defendant convicted of an infraction, at any time after the lapse of one year from the date of pronouncement of judgment, if he or she has fully complied with and performed the sentence of the court, is not then serving a sentence for any offense and is not under charge of commission of any crime, and has, since the pronouncement of judgment, lived an honest and upright life and has conformed to and obeyed the laws of the land, to petition to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty. If granting relief, existing law requires the court to dismiss the accusation against the defendant and release him or her from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense, except as provided. Existing law requires a defendant who petitions for a change of plea or setting aside of a verdict to reimburse the court by paying a fee, as specified.

This bill would instead require the court to automatically withdraw the plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty when the defendant has fulfilled the specified conditions. The bill would make conforming changes, including deleting the authority to charge the fee for making a petition.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

1203.4.

(a) (1) In any case in which a defendant has fulfilled the conditions of probation for the entire period of probation, or has been discharged prior to the termination of the period of probation, or in any other case in which a court, in its discretion and the interests of justice, determines that a defendant should be granted the relief available under this section, the ~~defendant~~ court shall, at ~~any time after~~ the termination of the period of probation, if ~~he or she~~ the defendant is not then serving a sentence for any offense, on probation for any offense, or charged with the commission of any offense, ~~be permitted by the court to withdraw~~ have his or her plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere automatically withdrawn by the court and ~~enter~~ have entered a plea of not guilty; or, if he or she has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and, in either case, the court shall thereupon dismiss the accusations or information against the defendant and except as noted below, he or she shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she has been convicted, except as provided in Section 13555 of the Vehicle Code. The probationer shall be informed, in his or her probation papers, of this right and privilege and his or her right, if any, to petition for a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon. ~~The probationer may make the application and change of plea in person or by attorney, or by the probation officer authorized in writing.~~ However, in any subsequent prosecution of the defendant for any other offense, the prior conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall have the same effect as if probation had not been granted or the accusation or information dismissed. The order shall state, and the probationer shall be informed, that the order does not relieve him or her of the obligation to disclose the conviction in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for public office, for licensure by any state or local agency, or for contracting with the California State Lottery Commission.

(2) ~~Dismissal~~ Automatic dismissal of an accusation or information pursuant to this section does not permit a person to own, possess, or have in his or her custody or control any firearm or prevent his or her conviction under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6.

(3) ~~Dismissal~~ Automatic dismissal of an accusation or information underlying a conviction pursuant to this section does not permit a person prohibited from holding public office as a result of that conviction to hold public office.

(4) This subdivision shall apply to all ~~applications for relief under this section which are filed~~ convictions of which the defendant completed probation on or after November 23, 1970.

(b) Subdivision (a) of this section does not apply to any misdemeanor that is within the provisions of Section 42002.1 of the Vehicle Code, to any violation of subdivision (c) of Section 286, Section 288, subdivision (c) of Section 288a, Section 288.5, subdivision (j) of Section 289, Section 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, or 311.11, or any felony conviction pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 261.5, or to any infraction.

(c) ~~(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), subdivision~~ Subdivision (a) does not apply to a person who receives a notice to appear or is otherwise charged with a violation of an offense described in subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, of Section 12810 of the Vehicle Code.

(2)If a defendant who was convicted of a violation listed in paragraph (1) petitions the court, the court in its discretion and in the interests of justice, may order the relief provided pursuant to subdivision (a) to that defendant.
(d)A person who petitions for a change of plea or setting aside of a verdict under this section may be required to reimburse the court for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and to reimburse the county for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the county board of supervisors not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and to reimburse any city for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the city council not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Ability to make this reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and shall not be a prerequisite to a person’s eligibility under this section. The court may order reimbursement in any case in which the petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue hardship, all or any portion of the costs for services established pursuant to this subdivision.
(e)(1)Relief shall not be granted under this section unless the prosecuting attorney has been given 15 days’ notice of the petition for relief. The probation officer shall notify the prosecuting attorney when a petition is filed, pursuant to this section.
~~(2)It shall be presumed that the prosecuting attorney has received notice if proof of service is filed with the court.~~
(f)If, after receiving notice pursuant to subdivision (e), the prosecuting attorney fails to appear and object to a petition for dismissal, the prosecuting attorney may not move to set aside or otherwise appeal the grant of that petition.
~~(g)~~

(d) Notwithstanding the above provisions or any other ~~provision of~~ law, the Governor shall have the right to pardon a person convicted of a violation of subdivision (c) of Section 286, Section 288, subdivision (c) of Section 288a, Section 288.5, or subdivision (j) of Section 289, if there are extraordinary circumstances.

SEC. 2.

Section 1203.4a of the Penal Code is amended to read:

1203.4a.

(a) ~~Every~~ For every defendant convicted of a misdemeanor and not granted probation, and for every defendant convicted of an ~~infraction shall, at any time~~ infraction, after the lapse of one year from the date of pronouncement of judgment, if he or she has fully complied with and performed the sentence of the court, is not then serving a sentence for any offense and is not under charge of commission of any crime, and has, since the pronouncement of judgment, lived an honest and upright life and has conformed to and obeyed the laws of the land, be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or if he or she has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and in either case the court shall thereupon the court shall withdraw the plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty, or if the defendant has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty and dismiss the accusatory pleading against the defendant, who shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she has been convicted, except as provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6 of this code or Section 13555 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) If a defendant does not satisfy all the requirements of subdivision (a), after a lapse of one year from the date of pronouncement of judgment, a court, in its discretion and in the interests of justice, may grant the relief available pursuant to subdivision (a) to a defendant convicted of an infraction, or of a misdemeanor and not granted probation, or both, if he or she has fully complied with and performed the sentence of the court, is not then serving a sentence for any offense, and is not under charge of commission of any crime.

(c) (1) The defendant shall be informed of the provisions of this section, either orally or in writing, at the time he or she is sentenced. The defendant may make an application and change of plea in person or by attorney, or by the probation officer authorized in writing, provided that, in any subsequent prosecution of the defendant for any other offense, the prior conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall have the same effect as if relief had not been granted pursuant to this section.

(2) ~~Dismissal~~ Automatic dismissal of an accusatory pleading pursuant to this section does not permit a person to own, possess, or have in his or her custody or control any firearm or prevent his or her conviction under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6.

(3) ~~Dismissal~~ Automatic dismissal of an accusatory pleading underlying a conviction pursuant to this section does not permit a person prohibited from holding public office as a result of that conviction to hold public office.

(d) This section applies to any conviction specified in subdivision (a) or (b) that occurred before, as well as those occurring after, the effective date of this section, except that this section does not apply to the following:

(1) A misdemeanor violation of subdivision (c) of Section 288.

(2) Any misdemeanor falling within the provisions of Section 42002.1 of the Vehicle Code.

(3) Any infraction falling within the provisions of Section 42001 of the Vehicle Code.

(e)A person who petitions for a dismissal of a charge under this section may be required to reimburse the county and the court for the cost of services rendered at a rate to be determined by the county board of supervisors for the county and by the court for the court, not to exceed sixty dollars ($60), and to reimburse any city for the cost of services rendered at a rate to be determined by the city council not to exceed sixty dollars ($60). Ability to make this reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and shall not be a prerequisite to a person’s eligibility under this section. The court may order reimbursement in any case in which the petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue hardship, all or any portion of the cost for services established pursuant to this subdivision.
(f)A petition for dismissal of an infraction pursuant to this section shall be by written declaration, except upon a showing of compelling need. Dismissal of an infraction shall not be granted under this section unless the prosecuting attorney has been given at least 15 days’ notice of the petition for dismissal. It shall be presumed that the prosecuting attorney has received notice if proof of service is filed with the court.
~~(g)Any determination of amount made by a court under this section shall be valid only if either (1) made under procedures adopted by the Judicial Council or (2) approved by the Judicial Council.~~