Bill Text: CA AJR17 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Law enforcement: federal funding.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 41-19)

Status: (Passed) 2011-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 124, Statutes of 2011. [AJR17 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AJR17-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AJR 17	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Solorio

                        AUGUST 30, 2011

   Relative to law enforcement programs.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 17, as introduced, Solorio. Law enforcement: federal funding.
   This measure would urge Congress and the President of the United
States to increase funding for specified law enforcement and crime
prevention programs and to pay the full costs of incarcerating
undocumented criminals, as provided.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The federal government provides leadership and services
in funding administration and criminal justice policy development to
support the State of California to achieve safer communities; and
   WHEREAS, The United States Department of Justice, through the
federal Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) which is a component of
the Office of Justice Programs, administers various law enforcement
program initiatives; and
   WHEREAS, BJA provides support for law enforcement, courts,
corrections, treatment, victim services, technology, and prevention
initiatives that strengthen the nation's criminal justice system; and

   WHEREAS, It is recognized that most of the responsibility for
crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in
states, cities, and neighborhoods and the federal government can be
effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into
partnerships with these officers in the State of California; and
   WHEREAS, Various law enforcement program initiatives such as the
federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, the Prescription Drug
Monitoring Program, the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative, and
the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program are carried out in
partnership with local law enforcement officers; and
   WHEREAS, The State of California recognizes that these programs
have resulted in major innovations in crime prevention, including
drug courts, gang prevention strategies, and prisoner reentry
programs; and
   WHEREAS, The federal State Criminal Alien Assistance Program was
created in 1994 for the purpose of reimbursing states for the costs
of incarcerating undocumented criminals; and
   WHEREAS, Federal law provides that the State Criminal Alien
Assistance Program provide federal payments to states and localities
that incur costs for incarcerating undocumented criminals; and
   WHEREAS, There are almost 17,000 self-reported undocumented
criminals in the California prison system; and
   WHEREAS, In the 2009-10 fiscal year, the cost per incarcerated
individual in California was $52,363 each year; and
   WHEREAS, In the 2009-10 fiscal year, it cost the State of
California over $885 million to house these undocumented criminals;
and
   WHEREAS, In the 2009-10 fiscal year, the State of California was
reimbursed from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program in an
amount equal to only 11 cents for every dollar spent to house these
undocumented criminals; and
   WHEREAS, Budget cuts for public funding for law enforcement
programs at both the national and state level may have a devastating
effect on the viability of crime prevention programs; and
   WHEREAS, At a time when adverse economic conditions may lead to
increased crime, it is important that the federal government increase
funding to support our law enforcement officers, who risk their
lives daily to keep Americans safe; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully urges Congress
and the President of the United States to increase funding for these
law enforcement and crime prevention programs and to pay the full
costs of incarcerating undocumented criminals; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the
Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative
from California in the Congress of the United States.