Bill Text: CA AB304 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Domestic violence: probation.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Vetoed) 2024-02-01 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB304 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB304-Enrolled.html
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Enrolled
September 18, 2023 |
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Passed
IN
Senate
September 12, 2023 |
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Passed
IN
Assembly
September 13, 2023 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
September 08, 2023 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
September 01, 2023 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
May 18, 2023 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 304
| Introduced by Assembly Member Holden (Coauthor: Assembly Member Lackey) (Coauthor: Senator Min) |
January 26, 2023 |
An act to amend Section 68555 of the Government Code, and to amend Section 1203.097 of the Penal Code, relating to domestic violence.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 304, Holden.
Domestic violence: probation.
Existing law specifies that the terms of probation granted to a person who has been convicted of domestic violence are required to include, among other things, successful completion of a batterer’s program, as defined, or, if such a program is not available, another appropriate counseling program designated by the court, for a period of not less than one year, and a protective order protecting the victim from further acts of violence, threats, stalking, sexual abuse, and harassment. Existing law requires the court to order the defendant to comply with all probation requirements, including the payment of program fees based upon the ability to pay. If the court finds that a defendant does not have the ability to pay the program fee, existing law authorizes the court to reduce or waive the program fee. Existing law requires a batterer’s program to develop and utilize a sliding fee
schedule based on a defendant’s ability to pay.
The bill would require program providers, as defined, to publicly post, including on an internet website, a comprehensive description of their sliding fee scales. The bill would require the court to inform the defendant of the availability of a program fee waiver, if they do not have the ability to pay for the program, and to provide each defendant with a selection of available program providers and those providers’ standard fees and sliding fee scales before the defendant agrees to the conditions of probation.
Existing law requires the probation department, when investigating the appropriate batterer’s program for a defendant, to take into account, among other factors, the defendant’s age, medical history, and educational background. Existing law requires a program to meet certain requirements, including immediately reporting any violation of the terms of the protective
order to the court, the prosecutor, and, if formal probation has not been ordered, to the probation department.
The bill would require the probation department, when investigating the appropriate program, to also take into account the defendant’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and financial means and to promptly notify each program in which the defendant is required to participate the defendant’s other required, court-mandated programs and probation violations pertaining to a domestic violence offense. The bill would require a program provider to report a violation of the protective order within 7 business days.
Existing law requires the court to refer persons to batterer’s programs that have been approved by the probation department. Existing law requires the probation department to design and implement an approval and renewal process for batterer’s programs, to regulate those programs, as specified, and to fix a
yearly fee, not to exceed $250 to approve an application or renewal.
The bill would place these requirements, instead, in the Department of Justice.
The bill, when referencing a batterer’s program, would specifically indicate another appropriate counseling program if a batterer’s program is not available.
The bill would, by April 1, 2024, to ensure compliance with state law, make the Department of Justice responsible for collaborating with the Judicial Council and relevant stakeholders to set program provider standards, approving, monitoring, and renewing approvals of program providers, conducting periodic audits of program providers, and developing, in consultation with the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch of the State Department of Public Health, comprehensive statewide standards through regulations, among other responsibilities. The bill would, by April 1, 2024, require
the Judicial Council to establish guidelines and training for judges to ensure the consistent adjudication of probation violations.
Existing law requires the Judicial Council to establish judicial training programs for individuals who perform duties in domestic violence matters. Existing law requires the training programs to include a domestic violence session in any orientation session for newly appointed or elected judges and an annual training session in domestic violence. Existing law requires the training programs to include instruction in all aspects of domestic violence, including, but not limited to, the detriment to children of residing with a person who perpetrates domestic violence.
This bill would instead require the Judicial Council to establish judicial training programs for individuals, including judicial officers and referees, who perform duties in domestic violence or child custody matters, including, among other topics, child sexual abuse and coercive control, as specified.
The bill would make findings and declarations in support of these provisions.
By requiring a higher level of service from the courts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Domestic violence is a serious public safety and health issue affecting families, communities, and the criminal justice system.
(b) Inadequate offender supervision by county probation departments has undermined the effectiveness of programs addressing domestic violence.
(c) The existing system to deal with domestic violence offenders is ineffective and limits the court’s ability to address domestic violence effectively.
(d) The Legislature can improve the effectiveness and consistency of the domestic violence batterer intervention system by including additional definitions, requirements, and safeguards in state law.
(e) Other states have more comprehensive and effective standards, and most states have state agencies responsible for approving, monitoring, renewing, and providing guidance to program providers.
(f) California would benefit from oversight by a statewide agency responsible for monitoring program providers, supervision of offenders by county probation departments, the establishment of statewide standards, and a system to track critical offender and program data. This will enable policymakers to make data-driven decisions to improve the effectiveness of programs and correct
problems with the batterer intervention system.
SEC. 2.
Section 68555 of the Government Code is amended to read:68555.
(a) The Judicial Council shall establish judicial training programs for individuals who perform duties in domestic violence or child custody matters, including, but not limited to, judicial officers, referees, commissioners, and if employed by the court, guardians ad litem, custody evaluators, mediators, and child custody recommending counselors, and others who are deemed appropriate by the Judicial Council.(b) (1) The training program described in this section shall be an ongoing training and education program designed to improve the ability of courts to recognize and respond to child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and trauma in family victims, particularly children, and to make appropriate custody decisions that prioritize child safety and well-being and are culturally sensitive and appropriate for diverse communities.
(2) The training program described in this section shall include a domestic violence session in any orientation session conducted for newly appointed or elected judges, an annual training session in domestic violence, and periodic updates in all aspects of domestic violence, including, but not limited to:
(A) Child sexual abuse.
(B) Physical abuse.
(C) Emotional abuse.
(D) Coercive control.
(E) Implicit and explicit bias related to parties involved in domestic violence cases.
(F) Trauma.
(G) Long- and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children.
(H) The detriment to children of residing with a person who perpetrates domestic violence.
(I) That domestic violence can occur without a party seeking or obtaining a restraining order, without a substantiated child protective services finding, and without other documented evidence of abuse.
(J) Victim and perpetrator behavioral patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence.
SEC. 3.
Section 1203.097 of the Penal Code is amended to read:1203.097.
(a) If a person is granted probation for a crime in which the victim is a person defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, the terms of probation shall include all of the following:(1) A minimum period of probation of 36 months, which may include a period of summary probation as appropriate.
(2) A criminal court protective order protecting the victim from further acts of violence, threats, stalking, sexual abuse, and harassment, and, if appropriate, containing residence exclusion or stay-away conditions.
(3) Notice to the victim of the disposition of the case.
(4) Booking the defendant within one week of sentencing if the defendant has not already been booked.
(5) (A) A minimum payment by the defendant of a fee of five hundred dollars ($500) to be disbursed as specified in this paragraph. If, after a hearing in open court, the court finds that the defendant does not have the ability to pay, the court may reduce or waive this fee. If the court exercises its discretion to reduce or waive the fee, it shall state the reason on the record.
(B) Two-thirds of the moneys deposited with the county treasurer pursuant to this section shall be retained by counties and deposited in the domestic violence programs special fund created pursuant to Section 18305 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code, to be expended for the purposes of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 18290) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code. Of the moneys deposited in the domestic violence programs special fund, no more than 8 percent may be used for administrative costs, as specified in Section 18305 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C) The remaining one-third of the moneys shall be transferred, once a month, to the Controller for deposit in equal amounts in the Domestic Violence Restraining Order Reimbursement Fund and in the Domestic Violence Training and Education Fund, which are hereby created, in an amount equal to one-third of funds collected during the preceding month. Moneys deposited into these funds pursuant to this section shall be available upon appropriation by the Legislature and shall be distributed each fiscal year as follows:
(i) Funds from the Domestic
Violence Restraining Order Reimbursement Fund shall be distributed to local law enforcement or other criminal justice agencies for state-mandated local costs resulting from the notification requirements set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 6380 of the Family Code, based on the annual notification from the Department of Justice of the number of restraining orders issued and registered in the state domestic violence restraining order registry maintained by the Department of Justice, for the development and maintenance of the domestic violence restraining order databank system.
(ii) Funds from the Domestic Violence Training and Education Fund shall support a statewide training and education program to increase public awareness of domestic violence and to improve the scope and quality of services provided to the victims of domestic
violence. Grants to support this program shall be awarded on a competitive basis and be administered by the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the statewide domestic violence coalition, which is eligible to receive funding under this section.
(D) The fee imposed by this paragraph shall be treated as a fee, not as a fine, and shall not be subject to reduction for time served as provided pursuant to Section 1205 or 2900.5.
(E) The fee imposed by this paragraph may be collected by the collecting agency, or the agency’s designee, after the termination of the period of probation, whether probation is terminated by revocation or by completion of the term.
(6) Successful completion of a batterer’s program, as
defined in subdivision (c), or if none is available, another appropriate counseling program designated by the court, for a period not less than one year with periodic progress reports by the program to the court every three months or less and weekly sessions of a minimum of two hours class time duration. The defendant shall attend consecutive weekly sessions, unless granted an excused absence for good cause by the program for no more than three individual sessions during the entire program, and shall complete the program within 18 months, unless, after a hearing, the court finds good cause to modify the requirements of consecutive attendance or completion within 18 months.
(7) (A) (i) The court shall order the defendant to comply with all probation requirements, including the requirements to attend counseling,
keep all program appointments, and pay program fees based upon the ability to pay. The court shall inform the defendant of the availability of a program fee waiver if the defendant does not have the ability to pay the fee.
(ii) The terms of probation for offenders shall not be lifted until all reasonable fees due to the counseling program have been paid in full, but in no case shall probation be extended beyond the term provided in subdivision (a) of Section 1203.1. If the court finds that the defendant does not have the ability to pay the fees based on the defendant’s changed circumstances, the court may reduce or waive the fees.
(B) Upon request by the program provider, the court shall provide the defendant’s arrest report, prior incidents of violence, and treatment history to
the program.
(8) The court also shall order the defendant to perform a specified amount of appropriate community service, as designated by the court. The defendant shall present the court with proof of completion of community service and the court shall determine if the community service has been satisfactorily completed. If sufficient staff and resources are available, the community service shall be performed under the jurisdiction of the local agency overseeing a community service program.
(9) If the program provider finds that the defendant is unsuitable, the program provider shall immediately contact the probation department or the court. The probation department or court shall either recalendar the case for hearing or refer the defendant to an appropriate alternative
program provider.
(10) (A) Upon recommendation of the program provider, a court shall require a defendant to participate in additional sessions throughout the probationary period, unless it finds that it is not in the interests of justice to do so, states its reasons on the record, and enters them into the minutes. In deciding whether the defendant would benefit from more sessions, the court shall consider whether any of the following conditions exists:
(i) The defendant has been violence free for a minimum of six months.
(ii) The defendant has cooperated and participated in the batterer’s program or, if none is available, another appropriate counseling program.
(iii) The defendant demonstrates an understanding of and practices positive conflict resolution skills.
(iv) The defendant blames, degrades, or has committed acts that dehumanize the victim or puts at risk the victim’s safety, including, but not limited to, molesting, stalking, striking, attacking, threatening, sexually assaulting, or battering the victim.
(v) The defendant demonstrates an understanding that the use of coercion or violent behavior to maintain dominance is unacceptable in an intimate relationship.
(vi) The defendant has made threats to harm anyone in any manner.
(vii) The defendant
has complied with applicable requirements under paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) or subparagraph (C) to receive alcohol counseling, drug counseling, or both.
(viii) The defendant demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for the abusive behavior perpetrated against the victim.
(B) The program provider shall, within seven business days, report any violation of the terms of the protective order, including any new acts of violence or failure to comply with the program requirements, to the court, the prosecutor, and, if formal probation has been ordered, to the probation department. The probationer shall file proof of enrollment in a batterer’s program or, if none is available, another appropriate counseling program, with the court within 30 days of conviction.
(C) Concurrent with other requirements under this section, in addition to, and not in lieu of, the batterer’s program or, if none is available, another appropriate counseling program, and unless prohibited by the referring court, the probation department or the court may make provisions for a defendant to use their resources to enroll in a chemical dependency program or to enter voluntarily a licensed chemical dependency recovery hospital or residential treatment program that has a valid license issued by the state to provide alcohol or drug services to receive program participation credit, as determined by the court. The probation department shall document evidence of this hospital or residential treatment participation in the defendant’s program file.
(11) The conditions of
probation may include, in lieu of a fine, but not in lieu of the fund payment required under paragraph (5), one or more of the following requirements:
(A) That the defendant make payments to a domestic violence shelter-based program, up to a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(B) (i) That the defendant reimburse the victim for reasonable expenses that the court finds are the direct result of the defendant’s offense.
(ii) For any order to pay a fine, to make payments to a domestic violence shelter-based program, or to pay restitution as a condition of probation under this subdivision, the court shall make a determination of the defendant’s ability to pay. Determination of a defendant’s
ability to pay may include their future earning capacity. A defendant shall bear the burden of demonstrating lack of their ability to pay. Express findings by the court as to the factors bearing on the amount of the fine shall not be required. In no event shall any order to make payments to a domestic violence shelter-based program be made if it would impair the ability of the defendant to pay direct restitution to the victim or court-ordered child support. When the injury to a married person is caused, in whole or in part, by the criminal acts of their spouse in violation of this section, the community property shall not be used to discharge the liability of the offending spouse for restitution to the injured spouse, as required by Section 1203.04, as operative on or before August 2, 1995, or Section 1202.4, or to a shelter for costs with regard to the injured spouse, until all separate property of the offending
spouse is exhausted.
(12) If it appears to the prosecuting attorney, the court, or the probation department that the defendant is performing unsatisfactorily in the assigned program, is not benefiting from counseling, or has engaged in criminal conduct, upon request of the probation officer, the prosecuting attorney, or on its own motion, the court, as a priority calendar item, shall hold a hearing to determine whether further sentencing should proceed. The court may consider factors, including, but not limited to, any violence by the defendant against the former or a new victim while on probation and noncompliance with any other specific condition of probation. If the court finds that the defendant is not performing satisfactorily in the assigned program, is not benefiting from the program, has not complied with a condition of probation,
or has engaged in criminal conduct, the court shall terminate the defendant’s participation in the program and shall proceed with further sentencing.
(b) If a person is granted formal probation for a crime in which the victim is a person defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, in addition to the terms specified in subdivision (a), all of the following shall apply:
(1) (A) The probation department shall make an investigation and take into consideration the defendant’s age, sexual orientation, gender identity, financial means, language-access needs, cultural identity, medical history, employment and service records, educational background, community and family ties, prior incidents of violence, police report, treatment history, if any, demonstrable motivation,
and other mitigating factors in determining which batterer’s program or, if none is available, another appropriate counseling program, would be appropriate for the defendant. This information shall be provided to the program if it is requested. The probation department shall also determine which community programs the defendant would benefit from and which of those programs would accept the defendant. The probation department shall report its findings and recommendations to the court.
(B) The probation department shall promptly notify each program in which the defendant is required to participate as part of probation of both of the following:
(i) All of the other court-mandated programs in which the defendant is required to participate.
(ii) All of the defendant’s probation violations pertaining to a domestic violence offense.
(2) (A) The court shall advise the defendant that the failure to report to the probation department for the initial investigation, as directed by the court, or the failure to enroll in a specified program, as directed by the court or the probation department, shall result in possible further incarceration. The court, in the interests of justice, may relieve the defendant from the prohibition set forth in this subdivision based upon the defendant’s mistake or excusable neglect. Application for this relief shall be filed within 20 court days of the missed deadline. This time limitation may not be extended. A copy of any application for relief shall be served on the office of the prosecuting attorney.
(B) The court shall provide each defendant with a selection of available program providers, including the program providers’ standard fees and sliding fee scales, upon the defendant’s request.
(3) After the court orders the defendant to a batterer’s program or, if none is available, another appropriate counseling program, the probation department shall conduct an initial assessment of the defendant, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Social, economic, and family background.
(B) Education.
(C) Vocational achievements.
(D) Criminal history.
(E) Medical history.
(F) Substance abuse history.
(G) Consultation with the probation officer.
(H) Verbal consultation with the victim, only if the victim desires to participate.
(I) Assessment of the future probability of the defendant committing murder.
(4) The probation department shall attempt to notify the victim regarding the requirements for the defendant’s participation in the batterer’s program or, if none is available, another appropriate counseling program, as well as regarding available victim
resources. The victim also shall be informed that attendance in any program does not guarantee that an abuser will not be violent.
(c) The court or the probation department shall refer defendants only to batterer’s programs or, if none are available, other appropriate counseling programs, that follow standards outlined in paragraph (1), which may include, but are not limited to,
lectures, classes, group discussions, and counseling. The Department of Justice shall design and implement an approval and renewal process for batterer’s programs and counseling programs and shall solicit input from criminal justice agencies and domestic violence victim advocacy programs.
(1) The goal of a batterer’s program or other appropriate counseling program under this section shall be to stop domestic violence. A program shall consist of the following components:
(A) Strategies to hold the defendant accountable for the violence in a relationship, including, but not limited to, providing the defendant with a written statement that the defendant shall be held accountable for acts or threats of domestic violence.
(B) A requirement that the defendant participate in ongoing same-gender group sessions.
(C) An initial intake that provides written definitions to the defendant of physical, emotional, sexual, economic, and verbal abuse, and the techniques for stopping these types of abuse.
(D) Procedures to inform the victim regarding the requirements for the defendant’s participation in the intervention program as well as regarding available victim resources. The victim also shall be informed that attendance in any program does not guarantee that an abuser will not be violent.
(E) A requirement that the defendant attend group sessions free of chemical influence.
(F) Educational programming that examines, at a minimum, gender roles, socialization, the nature of violence, the dynamics of power and control, and the effects of abuse on children and others.
(G) A requirement that excludes any couple counseling or family counseling, or both.
(H) Procedures that give the program the right to assess whether or not the defendant would benefit from the program and to refuse to enroll the defendant if it is determined that the defendant would not benefit from the program, so long as the refusal is not because of the defendant’s inability to pay. If possible, the program shall suggest an appropriate alternative program.
(I) Program staff who, to the extent possible, have specific
knowledge regarding, but not limited to, spousal abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, the dynamics of violence and abuse, the law, and procedures of the legal system.
(J) Program staff who are encouraged to utilize the expertise, training, and assistance of local domestic violence centers.
(K) A requirement that the defendant enter into a written agreement with the program, which shall include an outline of the contents of the program, the attendance requirements, the requirement to attend group sessions free of chemical influence, and a statement that the defendant may be removed from the program if it is determined that the defendant is not benefiting from the program or is disruptive to the program.
(L) A requirement that the defendant sign a confidentiality statement prohibiting disclosure of any information obtained through participating in the program or during group sessions regarding other participants in the program.
(M) Program content that provides cultural and ethnic sensitivity.
(N) A requirement of a written referral from the court or probation department prior to permitting the defendant to enroll in the program. The written referral shall state the number of minimum sessions required by the court.
(O) Procedures for submitting to the probation department all of the following uniform written responses:
(i) Proof of enrollment, to be
submitted to the court and the probation department and to include the fee determined to be charged to the defendant, based upon the ability to pay, for each session.
(ii) Periodic progress reports that include attendance, fee payment history, and program compliance.
(iii) Final evaluation that includes the program’s evaluation of the defendant’s progress, using the criteria set forth in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (10) of subdivision (a), and recommendation for either successful or unsuccessful termination or continuation in the program.
(P) (i) A sliding fee schedule based on the defendant’s ability to pay. The batterer’s program or counseling program shall develop and utilize a sliding
fee scale that recognizes both the defendant’s ability to pay and the necessity of programs to meet overhead expenses. An indigent defendant may negotiate a deferred payment schedule, but shall pay a nominal fee, if the defendant has the ability to pay the nominal fee. Upon a hearing and a finding by the court that the defendant does not have the financial ability to pay the nominal fee, the court shall waive this fee. The payment of the fee shall be made a condition of probation if the court determines the defendant has the present ability to pay the fee. The fee shall be paid during the term of probation unless the program sets other conditions. The acceptance policies shall be in accordance with the scaled fee system.
(ii) Program providers shall post publicly, including on an internet website, a comprehensive description of their
sliding fee scale.
(2) The court shall refer persons only to batterer’s programs or, if none are available, other appropriate counseling programs, that have been approved by the Department of Justice pursuant to paragraph (5). The Department of Justice shall do both of the following:
(A) Provide for the issuance of a provisional approval, provided that the applicant is in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations and an urgent need for approval exists. A provisional approval shall be considered an authorization to provide services and shall not be considered a vested right.
(B) If the Department of Justice determines that a program is not in compliance with standards set by the department, the department
shall provide written notice of the noncompliant areas to the program provider. The program provider shall submit a written plan of corrections within 14 days from the date of the written notice on noncompliance. A plan of correction shall include, but not be limited to, a description of each corrective action and timeframe for implementation. The department shall review and approve all or any part of the plan of correction and notify the program provider of approval or disapproval in writing. If the program provider fails to submit a plan of correction or fails to implement the approved plan of correction, the department shall consider whether to revoke or suspend approval and, upon revoking or suspending approval, shall have the option to cease referrals of defendants under this section.
(3) A program, regardless of its source of funding,
shall not be approved unless it meets all of the following standards:
(A) The establishment of guidelines and criteria for education services, including standards of services that may include lectures, classes, and group discussions.
(B) Supervision of the defendant for the purpose of evaluating the person’s progress in the program.
(C) Adequate reporting requirements to ensure that all persons who, after being ordered to attend and complete a program, may be identified for either failure to enroll in, or failure to successfully complete, the program or for the successful completion of the program as ordered. The program provider shall notify the court and the probation department, in writing, within the period of
time and in the manner specified by the court of any person who fails to complete the program. Notification shall be given if the program provider determines that the defendant is performing unsatisfactorily or if the defendant is not benefiting from the education, treatment, or counseling.
(D) A victim shall not be compelled to participate in a program or counseling, and a program shall not condition a defendant’s enrollment on participation by the victim.
(4) In making referrals of indigent defendants to approved batterer’s programs or, if none are available, other appropriate counseling programs, the probation department shall apportion these referrals evenly among the approved programs.
(5) The Department of Justice
shall have the sole authority to approve a batterer’s program or counseling program for probation. The program shall be required to obtain only one approval but shall renew that approval annually.
(A) The procedure for the approval of a new or existing program shall include all of the following:
(i) The completion of a written application containing necessary and pertinent information describing the applicant program.
(ii) The demonstration by the program provider that it possesses adequate administrative and operational capability to operate a batterer’s treatment program or counseling program. The program provider shall provide documentation to prove that the program has conducted batterer’s programs or counseling
programs for at least one year prior to application. This requirement may be waived under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) if there is no existing batterer’s program in the city, county, or city and county.
(iii) The onsite review of the program provider, including monitoring of a session to determine that the program adheres to applicable statutes and regulations.
(iv) The payment of the approval fee.
(B) The Department of Justice shall fix a fee for approval not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and for approval renewal not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) every year in an amount sufficient to cover its costs in administering the approval process under this section. A fee shall not be charged for the approval
of local governmental entities.
(C) The Department of Justice has the sole authority to approve the issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation of approval and to cease new enrollments or referrals to a batterer’s program or counseling program under this section. The Department of Justice shall review information relative to a program’s performance or failure to adhere to standards, or both. The Department of Justice may suspend or revoke an approval issued under this subdivision or deny an application to renew an approval or to modify the terms and conditions of approval, based on grounds established by the department, including, but not limited to, either of the following:
(i) Violation of this section by any person holding approval or by a program employee in a program under this
section.
(ii) Misrepresentation of any material fact in obtaining the approval.
(6) For defendants who are chronic users or serious abusers of drugs or alcohol, standard components in the program shall include concurrent counseling for substance abuse and violent behavior, and in appropriate cases, detoxification and abstinence from the abused substance.
(7) The program provider shall conduct an exit conference that assesses the defendant’s progress during the defendant’s participation in the batterer’s program or counseling program.
(d) An act or omission relating to the approval of a batterer’s treatment programs or counseling programs under paragraph (5) of
subdivision (c) is a discretionary act pursuant to Section 820.2 of the Government Code.
(e) The Department of Justice, beginning on April 1, 2024, shall be responsible for all of the following to ensure compliance with state law:
(1) Collaborating with the Judicial Council and relevant stakeholders to set program provider standards.
(2) Approving, monitoring, and renewing approvals of program providers.
(3) Conducting periodic audits of program providers to ensure compliance with this section.
(4) Developing, in consultation with the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch of the State
Department of Public Health, comprehensive, statewide standards through regulations, including, but not limited to:
(A) Program provider curricula.
(B) Training for social workers, counselors, probation departments, peace officers, and others involved in the enforcement of domestic violence crimes or the monitoring or rehabilitation of individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes in all aspects of domestic violence, including, but not limited to:
(i) Implicit and explicit bias related to parties involved in domestic violence cases.
(ii) Trauma and emotional abuse.
(iii) Coercive control.
(iv) Victim and perpetrator behavior patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence.
(5) Identifying and developing a comprehensive final assessment tool to assess whether a defendant has satisfactorily completed the requirements of a program.
(6) Analyzing the effectiveness of programs, including, but not limited to, thorough the tracking of relevant offender and program data.
(f) By April 1, 2024, the Judicial Council shall establish guidelines and training for judges to ensure the consistent adjudication of probation violations.
(g) (1) For purposes of this
section, “program provider” means a provider of a batterer’s program, as defined in subdivision (c), or if none is available, another appropriate counseling program.
(2) Program provider does not include alcohol or drug counseling or alcohol and drug programs identified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (10) of subdivision (a).
