Bill Text: CA SB903 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Prisons: California Rehabilitation Oversight Board.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 821, Statutes of 2022. [SB903 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB903-Chaptered.html

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Senate Bill No. 903

CHAPTER 821

An act to amend Section 6141 of the Penal Code, relating to prisons.

[ Approved by Governor  September 29, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State  September 29, 2022. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 903, Hertzberg. Prisons: California Rehabilitation Oversight Board.

Existing law establishes the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board in the Office of the Inspector General and requires the board to regularly examine the various mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for incarcerated persons and parolees operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Existing law requires the board to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature, as specified.

This bill would additionally require the board to examine the department’s efforts to address the housing needs of incarcerated persons, including those who are identified as having serious mental health needs, who are released to the community as parolees and to include specified data on homelessness in its reports.

Digest Key

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

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 6141 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

6141.

 The California Rehabilitation Oversight Board shall meet at least twice annually, and shall regularly examine the various mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for incarcerated persons and parolees operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The board shall examine the department’s effort to assist incarcerated persons and parolees to obtain postrelease health care coverage. The board shall also examine efforts to address the housing needs of incarcerated persons, including those who are identified as having serious mental health needs, who are released to the community as parolees. The board shall report to the Governor and the Legislature annually, on September 15, and may submit other reports during the year if it finds they are necessary. The reports shall include, but are not limited to, findings on the effectiveness of treatment efforts, rehabilitation needs of incarcerated persons, gaps in rehabilitation services in the department, levels of incarcerated person participation and success in the programs, data indicating the number of parolees who are experiencing homelessness, and the number of those parolees experiencing homelessness who have previously been identified as having serious mental health needs. The board shall also make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature with respect to modifications, additions, and eliminations of rehabilitation and treatment programs. In performing its duties, the board shall use the work products developed for the department as a result of the provisions of the 2006 Budget Act, including Provision 18 of Item 5225-001-0001.