BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2357 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 2357 (Skinner) - As Introduced: February 21, 2014 Policy Committee: Public SafetyVote: 7-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to add an inmate's service in the United States military to the list of factors - including substance abuse, medical and mental health, education, family history - to be used in assessing inmates for programming purposes. FISCAL EFFECT Minor absorbable costs to CDCR. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . The author contends including an inmate's military service in CDCR programming assessment will help veterans access services - inside and out - that will reduce recidivism. 2)Incarcerated Veterans in California . Historically, data on the number of incarcerated veterans has been difficult to obtain as the information was generally self-reported. CDCR, however, can now verify prior military service through a data exchange with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA). As of April 2014, there are 4,627 currently-incarcerated inmates at CDCR verified by the USDVA as having prior military service. Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 AB 2357 Page 2