BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1362
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Date of Hearing: April 14, 2009
Counsel: Nicole J. Hanson
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Jose Solorio, Chair
AB 1362 (Solorio) - As Introduced: February 27, 2009
As Proposed to be Amended in Committee
SUMMARY : Creates the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board
(CROB) Advisory Committee. Specifically, this bill :
1)Establishes that there is in the Office of the Inspector
General (OIG) the C-ROB Advisory Committee. The committee
shall consist of nine members as follows:
a) A clinical psychologist appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly.
b) A social worker appointed by the Governor.
c) Two correctional peace officers, one appointed by the
Governor and one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
d) A chaplain appointed by the Governor.
e) A rehabilitation therapist appointed by the Governor.
f) A teacher appointed by the Governor.
g) A warden appointed by the Senate President pro Tempore.
h) A clinician with expertise in behavioral health who
works with parolees, appointed by the Senate President pro
Tempore.
i) A psychiatrist appointed by the Governor.
2)Requires members of the CROB Advisory Committee to work
directly with inmates in the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The committee shall
meet at least quarterly, and at least two committee meetings
shall be scheduled in conjunction with CROB. The CROB
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Advisory Committee shall provide assistance and advice on
strategies for accomplishing the rehabilitation goals of the
various mental health, substance abuse, educational, and
employment programs for inmates and parolees operated by CDCR.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Creates CROB. CROB shall consist of the 11 members as
follows:
a) The OIG, who shall serve as chair.
b) The Secretary of the CDCR.
c) The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or his or her
designee.
d) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, or
his or her designee.
e) The Director of the State Department of Alcohol and Drug
Programs, or his or her designee.
f) The Director of Mental Health, or his or her designee.
g) A faculty member of the University of California who has
expertise in rehabilitation of criminal offenders,
appointed by the President of the University of California.
h) A faculty member of the California State University, who
has expertise in rehabilitation of criminal offenders,
appointed by the Chancellor of the California State
University.
i) A county sheriff, appointed by the Governor.
j) A county chief probation officer, appointed by the
Senate Committee on Rules.
aa) A local government official who provides mental health,
substance abuse, or educational services to criminal
offenders, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(Penal Code Section 6140.)
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
AB 1362
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COMMENTS :
1)Author's Statement : According to the author, "Assembly Bill
900 (Solorio), the Public Safety and Offender Rehabilitation
Services Act of 2007, created CROB.
"At least twice per year, CROB submits reports to the Governor
and the Legislature on its findings on the effectiveness of of
rehabilitative programming throughout CDCR. However,
expertise of some professionals directly involved in the new
multidisciplinary approach of CDCR to reduce recivivism are
currently not represented on the CROB Board, nor is their
expertise solicited.
"AB 1362 would establish a 10-member CROB Advisory Committee.
The committee would be charged with providing CROB with
assistance and advice on strategies for accomplishing the
rehabilitation goals of CDCR. The committee would include a
psychologist, clinical psychologist, a social worker, two
correctional peace officers, a chaplain, a rehabilitation
therapist, a teacher, a warden, and a clinician with expertise
in behavioral health who works with parolees. Their services
would be voluntary."
2)Background : According to information provided by the author,
"AB 900 created C-ROB. CROB board members presently do not
have an open channel of communication with a key resource.
The expertise of some professionals directly involved in the
new multidisciplinary approach of CDCR to reduce recivivism
are currently not represented on the CROB Board, nor is their
expertise solicited."
3)Argument in Support :
a) According to the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees , "AB 1362 would establish the CROB
Advisory Committee and charge it with providing assistance
and advice on strategies for accomplishing the
rehabilitation goals of the various mental health,
substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for
inmates and parolees operated by the CDCR.
"CROB does not currently have a direct channel to essential
information resources to ensure the effectiveness of
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rehabilitation programs. Without consulting all
professionals working with inmates and parolees, a holistic
and effective approach to rehabilitation is impossible.
"The proposed CROB Advisory Committee would include a
psychologist, clinical psychologist, a social worker, two
correctional peace officers, a chaplain, a rehabilitation
therapist, a teacher, a warden, and a clinician with
expertise in behavioral health. All members of the
committee would be professionals who have experience
working with parolees. Through information sharing and
idea formation, this committee will be able to solve
rehabilitation problems by coming to solutions that are
consistent and effective. Instead of a compartmentalized
approach to rehabilitation, a solid structural plan can be
formed and implemented to ensure fair treatment of inmates
and parolees. This will reduce different interpretations
and implementations of current law and combine diverse
solutions to solve complex issues.
"With fewer obstacles impeding rehabilitation workers, the
efficacy of the rehabilitation system will increase and
inmates and parolees will be better served, reducing
recidivism. The effect of this committee will be a
decrease in discrimination between similar inmate and
parolee cases, while solving institutional impediments to
reach a more sensible solution to rehabilitation. The
committee's findings will assist in increasing the ability
of parolees to reenter society instead of returning to
prison and increasing the already high rate of recidivism."
b) According to California Psychological Association , "This
bill would establish the CROB Advisory Committee and charge
it with providing assistance and advice on strategies for
accomplishing the rehabilitation goals of the various
mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment
programs for inmates and parolees. The multi-disciplinary
board, whose members have direct experience working with
inmates, is composed of a variety of correctional and
mental health professionals, including a clinical
psychologist. The California Psychological Association
views the formation of this committee, and its inclusion of
mental health clinicians, as a step in the right direction
to creating solution in CDCR for reducing recidivism and
implementing long-term rehabilitation policies.
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"The California Psychological Association is a non-profit
professional organization of over 4,000 members practicing
in the state of California. California's psychologists
currently work in private practice, hospitals, government
agencies, university and research settings, schools,
community clinics, and businesses."
4)Related Legislation : AB 845 (Bass) requests the Reentry
Advisory Committee to apply for federal funds, develop a
comprehensive strategic reentry plan reducing the recidivism
rate, and submit a report to the Legislature. AB 845 is set
to be heard by this Committee today.
5)Prior Legislation : AB 900 (Solorio), Chapter 7, Statutes of
2009, created C-ROB to evaluate CDCR rehabilitation and
treatment programs, and recommend changes to the Legislature
and Governor.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees (Sponsor)
American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees, Local 2620
California Correctional Peace Officers Association
California Psychological Association
Opposition
None
Analysis Prepared by : Nicole J. Hanson / PUB. S. / (916)
319-3744