AB 1547, Gomez. Domestic Violence Advisory Council.
Existing law, until January 1, 2015, establishes the Domestic Violence Advisory Council to the Office of Emergency Services, and specifies the composition and appointment of council members. Under existing law, the office and the council collaboratively administer the Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence Program.
This bill would delete the January 1, 2015 date of repeal, effectively allowing these provisions to remain in effect indefinitely.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 13823.16 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
(a) The Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence Program established pursuant to Section 13823.15 shall be collaboratively administered by the Office of Emergency Services and an advisory council. The membership of the Office of Emergency Services Domestic Violence Advisory Council shall consist of experts in the provision of either direct or intervention services to victims of domestic violence and their children, within the scope and intention of the Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence Assistance Program.
(b) The membership of the council shall consist of domestic violence victims’ advocates, battered women service providers, at least one representative of service providers serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in connection with domestic violence, and representatives of women’s organizations, law enforcement, and other groups involved with domestic violence. At least one-half of the council membership shall consist of domestic violence victims’ advocates or battered women service providers. It is the intent of the Legislature that the council membership reflect the ethnic, racial, cultural, and geographic diversity of the state, including people with disabilities. The council shall be composed of no more than 13 voting members and two nonvoting ex officio members who shall be appointed, as follows:
(1) Seven voting members shall be appointed by the Governor, including at least one person recommended by the federally recognized state domestic violence coalition.
(2) Three voting members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(3) Three voting members shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(4) Two nonvoting ex officio members shall be Members of the Legislature, one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. Any Member of the Legislature appointed to the council shall meet with the council and participate in its activities to the extent that participation is not incompatible with his or her position as a Member of the Legislature.
(c) The Office of Emergency Services shall collaborate closely with the council in developing funding priorities, framing the request for proposals, and soliciting proposals.
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