BILL NUMBER: SB 337 CHAPTERED 08/01/03 CHAPTER 152 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 1, 2003 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 31, 2003 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JULY 24, 2003 PASSED THE SENATE JUNE 2, 2003 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 22, 2003 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 3, 2003 INTRODUCED BY Senator Romero (Coauthor: Assembly Member Vargas) FEBRUARY 19, 2003 An act to amend Section 803 of the Penal Code, relating to limitations of time. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 337, Romero. Limitations of time. Under existing law, there are various specified limitations of time after which a criminal complaint or indictment may not be filed against a defendant. Existing statutes permit those limitations of time to be extended or waived for various specified reasons. In particular, for specified crimes and categories of crime, certain provisions delay the commencement of the time permitted for filing until the offense has been discovered, or could reasonably have been discovered. This bill would add violations of provisions relating to unlawful practice of law to those for which the commencement of the applicable limitation of time commences only when the offense has been, or could reasonably have been, discovered. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 803 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 803. (a) Except as provided in this section, a limitation of time prescribed in this chapter is not tolled or extended for any reason. (b) No time during which prosecution of the same person for the same conduct is pending in a court of this state is a part of a limitation of time prescribed in this chapter. (c) A limitation of time prescribed in this chapter does not commence to run until the discovery of an offense described in this subdivision. This subdivision applies to an offense punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, a material element of which is fraud or breach of a fiduciary obligation, the commission of the crimes of theft or embezzlement upon an elder or dependent adult, or the basis of which is misconduct in office by a public officer, employee, or appointee, including, but not limited to, the following offenses: (1) Grand theft of any type, forgery, falsification of public records, or acceptance of a bribe by a public official or a public employee. (2) A violation of Section 72, 118, 118a, 132, or 134. (3) A violation of Section 25540, of any type, or Section 25541 of the Corporations Code. (4) A violation of Section 1090 or 27443 of the Government Code. (5) Felony welfare fraud or Medi-Cal fraud in violation of Section 11483 or 14107 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (6) Felony insurance fraud in violation of Section 548 or 550 of this code or former Section 1871.1, or Section 1871.4, of the Insurance Code. (7) A violation of Section 580, 581, 582, 583, or 584 of the Business and Professions Code. (8) A violation of Section 22430 of the Business and Professions Code. (9) A violation of Section 10690 of the Health and Safety Code. (10) A violation of Section 529a. (11) A violation of subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 368. (d) If the defendant is out of the state when or after the offense is committed, the prosecution may be commenced as provided in Section 804 within the limitations of time prescribed by this chapter, and no time up to a maximum of three years during which the defendant is not within the state shall be a part of those limitations. (e) A limitation of time prescribed in this chapter does not commence to run until the offense has been discovered, or could have reasonably been discovered, with regard to offenses under Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code, under Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of, Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280) of, or Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) of, Division 20 of, or Part 4 (commencing with Section 41500) of Division 26 of, the Health and Safety Code, or under Section 386, or offenses under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of, Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of, Section 6126 of, Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 7301) of Division 3 of, or Chapter 19.5 (commencing with Section 22440) of Division 8 of, the Business and Professions Code. (f) (1) Notwithstanding any other limitation of time described in this chapter, a criminal complaint may be filed within one year of the date of a report to a responsible adult or agency by a child under 18 years of age that the child is a victim of a crime described in Section 261, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 289.5. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, a "responsible adult" or "agency" means a person or agency required to report pursuant to Section 11166. This subdivision applies only if both of the following occur: (A) The limitation period specified in Section 800 or 801 has expired. (B) The defendant has committed at least one violation of Section 261, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 289.5 against the same victim within the limitation period specified for that crime in either Section 800 or 801. (3) (A) This subdivision applies to a cause of action arising before, on, or after January 1, 1990, the effective date of this subdivision, and it shall revive any cause of action barred by Section 800 or 801 if any of the following occurred or occurs: (i) The complaint or indictment was filed on or before January 1, 1997, and it was filed within the time period specified in this subdivision. (ii) The complaint or indictment is or was filed subsequent to January 1, 1997, and it is or was filed within the time period specified within this subdivision. (iii) The victim made the report required by this subdivision to a responsible adult or agency after January 1, 1990, and a complaint or indictment was not filed within the time period specified in this subdivision, but a complaint or indictment is filed no later than 180 days after the date on which either a published opinion of the California Supreme Court, deciding whether retroactive application of this section is constitutional, becomes final or the United States Supreme Court files an opinion deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, whichever occurs first. (iv) The victim made the report required by this subdivision to a responsible adult or agency after January 1, 1990, and a complaint or indictment was filed within the time period specified in this subdivision, but the indictment, complaint, or subsequently filed information was dismissed, but a new complaint or indictment is or was filed no later than 180 days after the date on which either a published opinion of the California Supreme Court, deciding whether retroactive application of this section is constitutional, becomes final or the United States Supreme Court files an opinion deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, whichever occurs first. (B) (i) If the victim made the report required by this subdivision to a responsible adult or agency after January 1, 1990, and a complaint or indictment was filed within the time period specified in this subdivision, but the indictment, complaint, or subsequently filed information was dismissed, a new complaint or indictment may be filed notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, subdivision (c) of Section 871.5 and subdivision (b) of Section 1238. (ii) An order dismissing an action filed under this subdivision, which is entered or becomes effective at any time prior to 180 days after the date on which either a published opinion of the California Supreme Court, deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this section is constitutional, becomes final or the United States Supreme Court files an opinion deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, whichever occurs first, shall not be considered an order terminating an action within the meaning of Section 1387. (iii) Any ruling regarding the retroactivity of this subdivision or its constitutionality made in the course of the previous proceeding, including any review proceeding, shall not be binding upon refiling. (g) (1) Notwithstanding any other limitation of time described in this chapter, a criminal complaint may be filed within one year of the date of a report to a California law enforcement agency by a person of any age alleging that he or she, while under the age of 18 years, was the victim of a crime described in Section 261, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 289.5. (2) This subdivision applies only if both of the following occur: (A) The limitation period specified in Section 800 or 801 has expired. (B) The crime involved substantial sexual conduct, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 1203.066, excluding masturbation that is not mutual, and there is independent evidence that clearly and convincingly corroborates the victim's allegation. No evidence may be used to corroborate the victim's allegation that otherwise would be inadmissible during trial. Independent evidence does not include the opinions of mental health professionals. (3) (A) This subdivision applies to a cause of action arising before, on, or after January 1, 1994, the effective date of this subdivision, and it shall revive any cause of action barred by Section 800 or 801 if any of the following occurred or occurs: (i) The complaint or indictment was filed on or before January 1, 1997, and it was filed within the time period specified in this subdivision. (ii) The complaint or indictment is or was filed subsequent to January 1, 1997, and it is or was filed within the time period specified within this subdivision. (iii) The victim made the report required by this subdivision to a law enforcement agency after January 1, 1994, and a complaint or indictment was not filed within the time period specified in this subdivision, but a complaint or indictment is filed no later than 180 days after the date on which either a published opinion of the California Supreme Court, deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, becomes final or the United States Supreme Court files an opinion deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, whichever occurs first. (iv) The victim made the report required by this subdivision to a law enforcement agency after January 1, 1994, and a complaint or indictment was filed within the time period specified in this subdivision, but the indictment, complaint, or subsequently filed information was dismissed, but a new complaint or indictment is filed no later than 180 days after the date on which either a published opinion of the California Supreme Court, deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, becomes final or the United States Supreme Court files an opinion deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, whichever occurs first. (B) (i) If the victim made the report required by this subdivision to a law enforcement agency after January 1, 1994, and a complaint or indictment was filed within the time period specified in this subdivision, but the indictment, complaint, or subsequently filed information was dismissed, a new complaint or indictment may be filed notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, subdivision (c) of Section 871.5 and subdivision (b) of Section 1238. (ii) An order dismissing an action filed under this subdivision, which is entered or becomes effective at any time prior to 180 days after the date on which either a published opinion of the California Supreme Court, deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this section is constitutional, becomes final or the United States Supreme Court files an opinion deciding the question of whether retroactive application of this subdivision is constitutional, whichever occurs first, shall not be considered an order terminating an action within the meaning of Section 1387. (iii) Any ruling regarding the retroactivity of this subdivision or its constitutionality made in the course of the previous proceeding, by any trial court or any intermediate appellate court, shall not be binding upon refiling. (h) (1) Notwithstanding any other limitation of time described in this chapter, a criminal complaint may be filed within one year of the date of a report to a California law enforcement agency by a person under 21 years of age, alleging that he or she, while under 18 years of age, was the victim of a crime described in Section 261, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 289.5. (2) This subdivision applies only if both of the following occur: (A) The limitation period specified in Section 800 or 801 has expired. (B) The crime involved substantial sexual conduct, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 1203.066, excluding masturbation that is not mutual, and there is independent evidence that corroborates the victim's allegation. No evidence may be used to corroborate the victim's allegation that otherwise would be inadmissible during trial. Independent evidence does not include the opinions of mental health professionals. (3) This subdivision applies to a cause of action arising before, on, or after January 1, 2002, the effective date of this subdivision, and it shall revive any cause of action barred by Section 800 or 801 if the complaint or indictment was filed within the time period specified by this subdivision. (i) (1) Notwithstanding the limitation of time described in Section 800, the limitations period for commencing prosecution for a felony offense described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 290, where the limitations period set forth in Section 800 has not expired as of January 1, 2001, or the offense is committed on or after January 1, 2001, shall be 10 years from the commission of the offense, or one year from the date on which the identity of the suspect is conclusively established by DNA testing, whichever is later, provided, however, that the one-year period from the establishment of the identity of the suspect shall only apply when either of the following conditions is met: (A) For an offense committed prior to January 1, 2001, biological evidence collected in connection with the offense is analyzed for DNA type no later than January 1, 2004. (B) For an offense committed on or after January 1, 2001, biological evidence collected in connection with the offense is analyzed for DNA type no later than two years from the date of the offense. (2) In the event the conditions set forth in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) are not met, the limitations period for commencing prosecution for a felony offense described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 290, where the limitations period set forth in Section 800 has not expired as of January 1, 2001, or the offense is committed on or after January 1, 2001, shall be 10 years from the commission of the offense. (3) For purposes of this section, "DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid. (j) For any crime, the proof of which depends substantially upon evidence that was seized under a warrant, but which is unavailable to the prosecuting authority under the procedures described in People v. Superior Court (Laff) (2001) 25 Cal.4th 703, People v. Superior Court (Bauman & Rose) (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 1757, or subdivision (c) of Section 1524, relating to claims of evidentiary privilege or attorney work product, the limitation of time prescribed in this chapter shall be tolled from the time of the seizure until final disclosure of the evidence to the prosecuting authority. Nothing in this section otherwise affects the definition or applicability of any evidentiary privilege or attorney work product. (k) (1) In a criminal investigation involving child sexual abuse as described in subdivision (g) or (h), when the limitations period set forth therein has not expired, that period shall be tolled from the time a party initiates litigation challenging a grand jury subpoena until the end of that litigation, including any associated writ or appellate proceeding, or until the final disclosure of evidence to the investigating or prosecuting agency, if that disclosure is ordered pursuant to the subpoena after the litigation. (2) Nothing in this subdivision affects the definition or applicability of any evidentiary privilege. (3) This subdivision shall not apply where a court finds that the grand jury subpoena was issued or caused to be issued in bad faith. (l) As used in subdivisions (f), (g), and (h), Section 289.5 refers to the statute enacted by Chapter 293 of the Statutes of 1991 relating to penetration by an unknown object.