CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 423

Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

February 06, 2023

An act to add and repeal Article 4 (commencing with Section 15060) of Chapter 1 of Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to the Department of Justice.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 423, as introduced, Maienschein. Department of Justice: missing persons.
Existing law requires the Attorney General to establish and maintain the Violent Crime Information Center to assist, as specified, in the identification and apprehension of persons responsible for specific violent crimes and for the disappearance and exploitation of persons, particularly children and at-risk adults.
This bill would require the Attorney General to convene a working group, as specified, within the Department of Justice Missing and Unidentified Persons Section, to study and propose legislative solutions to the problem of “wandering,” described as the phenomenon of cognitively impaired persons, including those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or autism, wandering away from home, care facilities, or other familiar surroundings and becoming lost or confused about their surroundings. The bill would require the working group to prepare and submit a report 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.

 Article 4 (commencing with Section 15060) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
Article  4. Working Group on Wandering

15060.
 (a) The Attorney General shall convene a working group on wandering within the Missing and Unidentified Persons Section of the department.
(b) The purpose of the working group shall be to study the issue of cognitively impaired persons, including those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or autism, wandering away from home, care facilities, or other familiar surroundings and becoming lost or confused about their surroundings.
(c) The working group shall be chaired by the director responsible for coordinating the response to missing persons described in Section 14208 of the Penal Code. The group shall be comprised of no more than 20 additional members appointed by the Attorney General, which shall, to the extent possible, include all of the following:
(1) A representative of the California State Sheriffs’ Association.
(2) A representative of the Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center of the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
(3) A representative of the California State Firefighters’ Association.
(4) A representative of the California Police Chiefs Association.
(5) A representative of the California State Association of Counties.
(6) A representative of an organization providing services to patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
(7) A representative of an organization providing services or advocacy to persons with autism.
(8) A family member of a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder who has experienced, or is at risk of, wandering.
(9) A family member of a person with autism who has experienced, or is at risk of, wandering.
(10) The Director of the California Department of Aging, or their designee.
(11) A representative of the State Department of Social Services that administers or coordinates adult protective services.
(12) A representative of the California Hospital Association.
(13) A representative of the L.A. Found initiative of the County of Los Angeles.
(14) A representative of the Mental Health Services Division of the State Department of Health Care Services.
(15) A representative of the League of California Cities.
(16) A representative from the State Department of Developmental Services that administers or coordinates regional centers.
(17) A representative of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
(d) (1) Members appointed to the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties.
(2) The working group shall meet no less than four times per year, but no more than six times per year.
(e) (1) The working group shall, by no later than June 30, 2026, prepare and submit a report to the Legislature.
(2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall include, without limitation, discussion, findings, and proposed legislation on all of the following topics:
(A) Education and training for professional and family caregivers.
(B) Technological solutions.
(C) Coordination of social services.
(D) Coordination of law enforcement agencies and resources.
(E) Public awareness of wandering.
(3) The report described in this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(f) This article shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.