BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 8X
Author: Evans (D)
Amended: 12/18/08 in Senate
Vote: 21
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE
SUBJECT : Budget Act of 2008
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill makes changes related to public safety
necessary to implement the Budget Act of 2008.
ANALYSIS :
This bill makes the following changes:
1. Property Crime Thresholds . Increases the value threshold
for various property crimes to reflect inflation since
1982, including increasing the $400 threshold for grand
theft to $950. This bill updates the value thresholds
for most property crimes, except for vandalism.
2. Inmate Credit Reform . Current law and practice provide
that most inmates that are not impacted by three-strikes
and are following prison rules can earn one day for every
day served in prison. This bill extends the same
day-for-day credit earning status to offenders serving a
portion of their prison sentence in jail. Existing law
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AB 8X
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limits credits in jail to one day for three days served.
This bill also authorizes the department to award
enhanced credits (up to four months) for the completion
of rehabilitation, education, and vocational programs in
prison. This policy has been recommended by national
corrections experts as a critical tool for improving
rehabilitation efforts.
This bill also authorizes the department to extend
existing enhanced credits for fire camp inmates (two days
for one day) to inmates that have met all of the
qualifications and have been cleared to be transferred to
a fire camp.
3. Parole System Changes . Directs that all non-serious,
non-violent offenders that are not required to register
as sex offenders and have no serious, violent, or sex
offense priors be discharged from parole after six
continuous months on parole without violation.
Currently, all offenders, regardless of offense, are
placed on parole for three years. Currently,
non-serious, non-violent offenders are discharged from
parole after 12 continuous months on parole without
violation.
4. Parole Diversions . Requires the use of alternative
sanctions for certain parole violators, including global
positioning systems, community work crews, and short-term
incarceration.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
DLW:do 12/17/08 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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