BILL NUMBER: AB 2705	CHAPTERED  07/20/06

	CHAPTER  94
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 20, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 20, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 26, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 25, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 18, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 17, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Spitzer
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Benoit, Bermudez, Cogdill, Cohn,
Daucher, DeVore, Harman, Huff, Mountjoy, Tran, Umberg, Walters, and
Wyland)
   (Coauthors: Senators Ackerman and Morrow)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2006

   An act to add Section 679.08 to the Penal Code, relating to
crimes.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2705, Spitzer  Victims of crime: information card.
   Existing law provides for the rights of victims of crime, as
specified.
   This bill would provide that whenever there has been a crime
committed against a victim, the law enforcement officer assigned to
the case may provide the victim of the crime with a "Victim's Rights
Card," as specified. The bill would provide that its provisions shall
be operative in a city or county only upon the adoption of a
resolution by the city council or board of supervisors to that effect
and that any act or omission covered by this section is a
discretionary act, as specified.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 679.08 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   679.08.  (a) (1) Whenever there has been a crime committed against
a victim, the law enforcement officer assigned to the case may
provide the victim of the crime with a "Victim's Rights Card," as
specified in subdivision (b).
   (2) This section shall be operative in a city or county only upon
the adoption of a resolution by the city council or board of
supervisors to that effect.
   (3) This section shall not be interpreted as replacing or
prohibiting any services currently offered to victims of crime by any
agency or person affected by this section.
   (b) A "Victim's Rights Card" means a card or paper that provides a
printed notice with a disclaimer, in at least 10-point type, to a
victim of a crime regarding potential services that may be available
under existing state law to assist the victim. The printed notice
shall include the following language or language substantially
similar to the following:
   "California law provides crime victims with important rights. If
you are a victim of crime, you may be entitled to the assistance of a
victim advocate who can answer many of the questions you might have
about the criminal justice system."
   "Victim advocates can assist you with the following:
   (1) Explaining what information you are entitled to receive while
criminal proceedings are pending.
   (2) Assisting you in applying for restitution to compensate you
for crime-related losses.
   (3) Communicating with the prosecution.
   (4) Assisting you in receiving victim support services.
   (5) Helping you prepare a victim impact statement before an
offender is sentenced."
   "To speak with a victim advocate, please call any of the following
numbers:"
    (Set forth the name and phone number, including area code, of all
victim advocate agencies in the local jurisdiction)
   "PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN AN ATTEMPT TO
ASSIST THE VICTIM, BY NOTIFYING THE VICTIM ABOUT SOME, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY ALL, SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE VICTIM; THE PROVISION OF
THIS INFORMATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN IS NOT LEGAL
ADVICE AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A GUARANTEE OF ANY VICTIM'S
RIGHTS OR OF A VICTIM'S ELIGIBILITY OR ENTITLEMENT TO ANY SPECIFIC
BENEFITS OR SERVICES."
   (c) Any act or omission covered by this section is a discretionary
act pursuant to Section 820.2 of the Government Code.