BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1547
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Date of Hearing: March 11, 2014
Counsel: Sandy Uribe
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Tom Ammiano, Chair
AB 1547 (Gomez) - As Introduced: January 23, 2014
SUMMARY : Eliminates the January 1, 2015 sunset date for the
Domestic Violence Advisory Council (DVAC), allowing it to remain
in effect indefinitely.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes a Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence
Program administered by the Office of Emergency Services (OES)
in order to provide financial and technical assistance to
local domestic violence service providers. (Pen. Code, §
13823.15, subd. (b).)
2)Requires OES to consult with an advisory council in
implementing the program. (Pen. Code, § 13823.15, subd. (c).)
3)Establishes an appointed Domestic Violence Advisory Council
comprised of experts in the provision of either direct or
intervention services to victims of domestic violence and
their children. (Pen. Code § 13823.16, subd. (a).)
4)Includes in the council's membership: domestic-violence
victims' advocates; battered-women service providers;
representatives of women's organizations; law enforcement; at
least one representative serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender communities; and other groups involved with
domestic violence. (Pen. Code § 13823.16, subd. (b).)
5)Requires the council and the OES to closely collaborate in
developing funding priorities, framing the request for
proposals, and soliciting proposals for domestic violence and
sexual assault/rape crisis grant programs. (Pen. Code §
13823.16, subd. (c).)
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
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COMMENTS :
1)Author's Statement : According to the author, "The Domestic
Advisory Council serves a great purpose to the State of
California. It brings a statewide voice to countless domestic
violence victims and survivors. In collaboration with the
Office of Emergency Services, the DVAC ensures the safety and
security of all domestic violence victims through the
development of policies, procedures and priorities to promote
effective and accessible services for victims. The DVAC
ensures that Cal OES administers funding programs and are
effectively responding to the needs of victims and survivors
across the state. AB 1547 would permanently continue the DVAC
and eliminate the sunset date."
2)Background : "The mission of the Domestic Violence Advisory
Council (DVAC) is to collaborate with the California
Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to ensure
the safety and security of all Domestic Violence victims
through the development of policies, procedures and priorities
which promote effective and accessible services for victims."
( http://www.calema.ca.gov/PublicSafetyandVictimServices/Pages/D
omestic-Violence-Advisory-Council-(DVAC).aspx .)
DVAC is composed of not more than 13 voting members and two
non-voting members. Seven of the voting members are appointed
by the Governor, three by the Speaker of the Assembly, and
three by the Senate Rules Committee. The two non-voting
members are members of the Legislature. At least half of the
council membership must consist of victims' advocates or
domestic violence service providers. Legislative intent
expresses that membership on the council reflect the ethnic,
racial, cultural, and geographic diversity of the state,
including people with disabilities. (Pen. Code § 13823.16,
subd. (b).)
Under current law DVAC remains in existence only through January
1, 2015. This bill would delete that sunset date and make the
council permanent.
3)Argument in Support : The California Partnership to End
Domestic Violence , the sponsor of this bill, states, "DVAC
provides an opportunity for the voices of domestic violence
experts from across the state to be heard in the
administration of the Comprehensive Statewide Domestic
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Violence Program, which provides funding for domestic violence
shelters and programs across California. The Advisory Council
allows these experts to collaborate with Cal OES in developing
funding priorities and requests for proposals. DVAC helps
ensure that the Cal OES administered funding programs are
effectively responding to the needs of the victims and
survivors across California.
"AB 1547 will remove the sunset date, allowing the Domestic
Violence Advisory Council to continue its important work."
4)Related Legislation :
a) AB 1623 (Atkins) allows a city, county, city and county,
or community-based nonprofit organization to establish a
multiagency, multidisciplinary family justice center to
assist victims of domestic violence, and other specified
crimes, to ensure that victims can access all needed
services in one location. AB 1623 is pending hearing in
this Committee.
b) SB 1208 (Yee) expresses legislative intent to enact
legislation that would provide funding for the
implementation of a pilot program in which nonprofit
organizations would work with the local district attorney
to provide services and support to victims of domestic
violence. SB 1208 is pending referral in the Senate Rules
Committee.
5)Prior Legislation :
a) SB 273 (Corbett), Chapter 177, Statutes of 2009, changed
the definition of domestic violence in the statewide
domestic violence program administered by the Office of
Emergency Services (OES) to extend services to males.
b) AB 100 (Cohn), Chapter 462, Statutes of 2005, extended
the January 1, 2006, sunset for an advisory council under
the Department of Health Services relating to battered
women's shelters to 2010.
c) SB 1895 (Escutia), Chapter 510, Statutes of 2002,
established a Domestic Violence Advisory Council and
requires the Office of Criminal Justice Planning to consult
with the council in administering domestic violence grants
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and programs.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (Sponsor)
African American Network for Violence Free Relationships
Alameda County Family Justice Center
Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault
Casa de Esperanza
California Catholic Conference, Inc.
California Coalition Against Sexual Assault
California Communities United Institute
Californians for Safety and Justice
Catalyst Domestic Violence Services
Center for Community Solutions
Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse
Crime Victims United
Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus
Hermanas
Holman United Methodist Church
Human Options
Interface Children and Family Services
Interval House
Maitri
Peace Over Violence
Rainbow Services
Salaam
Slavic Voices
Stand for Families Free of Violence
Stand Up Placer, Inc.
Weave, Inc.
28 private individuals
Opposition
None
Analysis Prepared by : Sandy Uribe / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744
AB 1547
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