BILL ANALYSIS AB 674 Page 1 Date of Hearing: January 21, 2010 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Kevin De Leon, Chair AB 674 (Salas) - As Amended: January 4, 2010 Policy Committee: Public SafetyVote: 7-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes SUMMARY This bill makes a series of changes designed to address the treatment of veterans convicted of criminal offenses as a result of post-traumatic stress-related disorders. Specifically, this bill: 1)Adds sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, and mental health problems to the list of service-related conditions (current law specifies post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological problems) that may result in a post-conviction referral into a related treatment program. 2)Deletes the reference to service in a "combat theater" as a prerequisite for a determination of a post-traumatic stress-related condition referenced in (1), above. 3)Adds veterans' courts to the alternative treatment programs that a convicted veteran may be referred to if a court concludes the offense was committed as a result of the conditions referenced in (1), above. 4)Deletes a provision of current law that specifies a court may refer a veteran defendant to a county mental health agency only if that agency has agreed to accept responsibility for that defendant. (Current law already specifies that a county is required to provide mental health services only to the extent resources are available for that purpose.) 5)Deletes a provision of current law that allows a veteran committed to a residential treatment program pursuant to this section, to earn sentence credits for the time spent in the AB 674 Page 2 program. FISCAL EFFECT The proposed clarifying changes should have only a minor effect on court-related and local program costs. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . The author contends the proposed changes more accurately reflect post-traumatic stress conditions. 2)Suggested Amendment . The author's office has agreed to delete the provision adding veterans' courts to the alternative programs a convicted veteran may be referred to, as veterans' courts have not been established in state law. Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081