BILL NUMBER: AB 2626	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 29, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Furutani

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to amend Section  878   14142  of
the Penal Code, relating to  material witnesses 
 violent crime   s against women  .


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2626, as amended, Furutani.  Material witnesses.
  Violent crimes against women: county task forces.
 
   Existing law authorizes and encourages the counties to create a
county task force on violent crimes against women to develop a
countywide policy on violent crimes against women. Under existing
law, counties that elect to establish a task force are authorized to
evaluate and make recommendations regarding law enforcement issues
relating to violence against women, including local government
efforts to reduce violent crimes against women.  
   This bill would require the county task force, if one is
established, to evaluate and make recommendations on those law
enforcement issues and would include the need for services and access
to information provided in languages other than English for women
who are victims of violent crime.  
   Existing law provides that on holding the defendant to answer or
on a plea of guilty where permitted by law, a magistrate is
authorized to take from each of the material witnesses examined
before him or her on the part of the people, a written undertaking,
to the effect that the person will appear and testify at the court to
which the depositions and statements or case are to be sent, or that
person will forfeit the sum of $500.  
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those
provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 14142 of the   Penal
Code   is amended to read: 
   14142.  Each county task force  may   , if
one is established, shall  evaluate and make recommendations
regarding the following:
   (a) The adequacy of current law enforcement efforts at the local
level to reduce the rate of violent crimes against women.
   (b) The responsiveness of local prosecutors and the courts to
violent crimes against women.
   (c) Local government efforts to reduce violent crimes against
women.
   (d) Public awareness and public dissemination of information
essential to the prevention of violent crimes against women.
   (e) The information collection and government statistics on the
incidence and prevalence of violent crimes against women.
   (f) The adequacy of federal, state, and local laws on sexual
assault and domestic violence and the need for more uniform statutory
responses to sex offenses and domestic violence.
   (g) The need for services, including counseling, shelter, legal
services, victim advocacy, and other supportive services, for women
who are victims of violent crime. 
   (h) The need for services and access to information provided in
languages other than English for women who are victims of violent
crime.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 878 of the Penal Code is
amended to read:
   878.  On holding the defendant to answer or on a plea of guilty
where permitted by law, the magistrate may take from each of the
material witnesses examined before him or her on the part of the
people a written undertaking, to the effect that the witness will
appear and testify at the court to which the depositions and
statements or case are to be sent, or that he or she will forfeit the
sum of five hundred dollars ($500).