BILL ANALYSIS
AB 14 X3
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 14 X3 (Arambula)
As Amended August 18, 2009
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(January 12, |SENATE: | |(August 20, |
| | |2009) | | |2009) |
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(vote not relevant) (vote not available)
Original Committee Reference: RLS.
SUMMARY : Makes statutory changes necessary to implement changes
to the 2009-10 Budget Act.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill,
and instead:
1)Property Crime Thresholds - Increase the value threshold for
various property crimes to reflect inflation since 1982 and
increases the $400 threshold for grand theft to $2,500.
Results in $34 million in savings.
2)Inmate Credit Reform - Establish: a) consistent day-for-day
credit earning status for offenders currently eligible for
earning day-for-day credit in both jail and prison; b)
authorizes the department to award enhanced credits (up to six
weeks) for the completion of rehabilitation, education, and
vocation programs in prison; c) authorizes the department to
extend existing enhanced credits for fire camp inmates (two
days for one day) to inmates waiting to be transferred to a
fire camp; and, d) provides for day for day credits for
inmates serving jail terms. Results in $42 million in
savings.
3)Sentence Changes - Three crimes punishable by either a prison
term or a jail term will be changed to misdemeanors. These
include petty theft with prior, writing bad checks, and
receiving stolen property. Results in $100 million in
savings.
4)Parole Changes - Low and moderate risk offenders with
non-serious, non-violent and non-sex offenses will not be
subject to parole revocation. Results in $178 million in
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savings.
5)Parole Re-Entry Courts - California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation (CDCR) will establish the Parole
Accountability Program. As part of the program CDCR will use
a parole violation decision-making instrument to determine the
most appropriate parole sanctions for a parole violator.
Parole violators with a history of substance abuse of mental
illness may be referred to a re-entry court. The court will
work with the assistance of parole agents to determine the
appropriate conditions of parole. Results in $10 million in
savings.
6)Alternative Custody - The Secretary of CDCR will be given
authority to order home detention with electronic monitoring
of individuals, who meet specified criteria, with less than 12
months to serve on their prison terms. This custody
alternative will also be available to inmates over age 60 and
those who are permanently medically incapacitated regardless
of the length of their sentence. Results in $120.5 million in
savings.
7)Probation Enhancement - County probation will receive a
portion of CDCR savings for improving outcomes so felony
probationers who would otherwise be sent to prison remain
under the jurisdiction of the counties. Probation will use
these funds for additional officers and evidence-based
programs. Results in $30 million in savings.
8)Public Safety Commission - Establishes a California Public
Safety Commission. The commission will establish sentencing
guidelines by July 1, 2012. The guidelines will go into
effect January 1, 2013 unless rejected by the Legislature and
Governor. The Commission membership will include law
enforcement, academic experts on criminal justice, and
representatives of the judiciary and defense counsel. All
voting member appointments other than those from the judiciary
are gubernatorial, subject to Senate confirmation.
Analysis Prepared by : Joe Stephenshaw / BUDGET / (916)
319-2099
FN: 0002306
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