BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2051
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2051 (Cohn)
As Amended August 24, 2006
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |49-29|(May 31, 2006) |SENATE: |23-15|(August 29, |
| | | | | |2006) |
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Original Committee Reference: JUD.
SUMMARY : Establishes training and services for lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) victim of domestic violence.
Specifically, this bill requires the:
1)Maternal and Child Health Branch of Department of Health
Services (DHS), which issues grants to battered women's
shelters to provide emergency shelter for women and their
children escaping family violence, to include grants to
underserved communities, including the LGBT community.
2)Advisory council established to consult with DHS regarding the
Maternal and Child Health Branch grants to battered women's
shelters to include LGBT domestic abuse experts.
3)Training program required for law enforcement officers on the
handling of domestic violence complaints to include adequate
instruction on the nature and extent of domestic violence in
the LGBT community.
4)Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) that
is charged with developing the course of instruction for the
training program to consult with, among others, at least one
LGBT domestic violence service provider.
5)Statewide training workshops on domestic violence conducted by
the Office of Emergency Services (OES) include a curriculum on
LGBT domestic abuse.
6)Establishes a $23 fee for same-sex couples registering as
domestic partners with the Secretary of State to be used for
the development and support of an LGBT curriculum for training
on domestic violence, support of service providers who serve
the LGBT community, an LGBT-specific domestic abuse brochure,
AB 2051
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and grants to provide services to victims of LGBT domestic
abuse. Requires the fee to be deposited in the Equality in
Prevention and Services for Domestic Abuse Fund to be
administered by the Office of Emergency Services (OES).
Requires, when funding is available, the Secretary of State to
provide same-sex couples an LGBT domestic abuse brochure
prepared by DHS, along with their Certificate of Registered
Domestic Partnership.
7)Requires OES to establish a grant program, funded by the
Equality in Prevention and Services for Domestic Abuse Fund,
and fund grants to LGBT domestic abuse service providers.
8)Adds provisions to prevent chaptering out with AB 1102 and SB
1062.
The Senate amendments establish a new fee for couples
registering as domestic partners, mandate a new brochure
concerning LGBT-specific domestic abuse, and establish a grant
program within OES to provide grants to domestic abuse service
providers in the LGBT community.
EXISTING LAW requires:
1)The Maternal and Child Health Branch of DHS to administer
grants to battered women's shelters to provide emergency
shelter for women and their children escaping family violence,
including grants to underserved communities. Creates, until
January 1, 2010, an advisory council to consult with DHS
regarding the funding program, consisting of, among others,
domestic violence advocates, battered women service providers
and law enforcement.
2)POST to implement a training program on the handling of
domestic violence complaints for law enforcement officers in
California and to consult with various groups on development
of the program.
3)The OES Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence Program to
provide assistance to local domestic violence centers through
a grant program and requires OES to conduct statewide training
workshops on domestic violence.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill expanded education and
training requirements to include LGBT domestic violence issues.
AB 2051
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FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : This bill, known as the Equality in Prevention and
Services for Domestic Abuse Act and sponsored by Equality
California, seeks to provide culturally appropriate education
and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
victims of domestic violence. The bill establishes a $23 fee
for same-sex couples registering as domestic partners, which
will support the following initiatives to combat domestic
violence in the LGBT community: (1) an education brochure
specific to LGBT abuse; (2) LGBT-specific domestic violence
training for law enforcement officers and domestic violence
service providers; and (3) grants administered by OES to support
organizations that serve the LGBT community
Analysis Prepared by : Leora Gershenzon / JUD. / (916)
319-2334
FN: 0017385