BILL NUMBER: SB 776	CHAPTERED  10/13/01

	CHAPTER  857
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 13, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 12, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 13, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 10, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 3, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 2, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Torlakson
   (Principal coauthor:  Senator Karnette)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to add and repeal Section 1680 of the Vehicle Code,
relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 776, Torlakson.  DUI offenses:  fines.
   Under existing law, a person who is convicted of a driving while
under the influence offense is required to be punished by terms of
imprisonment, fines, and other sanctions, including required
attendance in a licensed driving-under-the-influence program.
Existing law  requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to undertake
various functions with regard to administering driver's licenses,
including certain functions concerning the imposition of sanctions
involving driving-under-the-influence offenders.
   This bill would require the department to review the effectiveness
of programs, procedures, sanctions, fines, and fees provided for in
current law relating to the offense of driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs and to report those findings to the Legislature on
or before July 1, 2002.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI)
continues to be a significant threat to public health and safety.
   (b) Despite significant progress in reducing incidences of DUI,
more than 190,000 arrests were made for DUI offenses in California in
1999, including more than 25 percent that were repeat offenders,
highlighting the need to continue efforts to assess, treat, and make
accountable those individuals and families who continue to suffer
from alcohol and drug abuse.
   (c) The Department of Motor Vehicles reported in the 2001 Annual
Report of the California DUI Management Information System, alcohol
treatment, in conjunction with license restriction, continued to be
the most effective postconviction sanction in reducing subsequent DUI
incidents among DUI offenders.
   (d) The State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs reported
that the benefits of alcohol and other drug treatment outweigh the
costs to taxpayers by ratios from 4 to 1 to greater than 12 to 1.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1680 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   1680.  (a) The department shall review scientific and other
empirical evidence on the effectiveness of programs, procedures,
sanctions, fines, and fees in current law relating to the offense of
driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both.  In
undertaking the review, the department may also consult with
representatives of law enforcement, district attorneys, public
defenders, and licensed driving-under-the-influence programs, and any
other appropriate persons or entities.  The department shall report
on or before July 1, 2002, to the Legislature as to any findings
regarding sanction and program effectiveness, particularly with
respect to repeat offenders, and submit any recommendations to
improve individual accountability, public education, sanctions, and
programs to reduce recidivism.  The report may also include
recommendations for any statutory changes that would modify the
responsibilities of agencies or the courts so that violators can be
sanctioned and treated appropriately and effectively, based on
demonstrated sanction and program effectiveness.
   (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2003, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2003, deletes or extends
that date.