BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2570
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2570 (Skinner)
As Amended August 13, 2014
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(May 15, 2014) |SENATE: |36-0 |(August 18, |
| | | | | |2014) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original Committee Reference: PUB. S.
SUMMARY : Requires the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board
(C-ROB), beginning January 1, 2015, to examine the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation's (CDCR) effort to assist inmates
and parolees obtain postrelease health care coverage.
The Senate amendments add language from recently enacted AB 1468
(Budget Committee), Chapter 26, Statutes of 2014, to avoid
chaptering issues.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Creates C-ROB within the Office of the Inspector General
(OIG), and states that C-ROB shall consist of the following 11
members:
a) The Inspector General, who shall serve as chair.
b) The Secretary of 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 Health Care Services, or his or her
designee.
f) The Director of State Hospitals, 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.
AB 2570
Page 2
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.
2)Requires C-ROB to meet at least twice annually, and regularly
examine the various mental health, substance abuse,
educational, and employment programs for inmates and parolees
operated by CDCR. C-ROB shall report to the Governor and the
Legislature annually September 15, and may submit other
reports during the year if it finds they are necessary. The
reports shall include, but are not limited to, findings on the
effectiveness of treatment efforts, rehabilitation needs of
offenders, gaps in rehabilitation services in CDCR, and levels
of offender participation and success in the programs. C-ROB
shall also make recommendations to the Governor and
Legislature with respect to modifications, additions, and
eliminations of rehabilitation and treatment programs.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "There are a variety of
programs that assist inmates and parolees become productive
citizens in our communities. Under current law, the California
Rehabilitation Oversight Board (The Board) is the entity charged
with reviewing these rehabilitation and treatment programs. The
goal of this review is to ensure that the State has adequate
services for inmates and parolees and also to identify
deficiencies. The Board was created in 2007 to provide
recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on whether
inmate rehabilitation and treatment programs need modification,
additions, or elimination. Successful rehabilitation programs
would mean less recidivism throughout the state.
AB 2570
Page 3
"Currently, the Board is not required to review health care
programs that would help inmates and parolees rehabilitate. The
health care of an inmate is a key factor in whether he or she
will be able to successfully reintegrate into society. Inmates
who need medical attention in prison are likely to also need
health care once released. Research shows that formerly
incarcerated individuals who have access to medical services
upon release have reduced recidivism rates, increasing the
likelihood they will become productive citizens. A recent
report studying the social and health factors affecting recently
released inmates concludes that health insurance coverage for
recently released inmates is strongly associated with reduced
recidivism rates for men and women. Adding health care review
to the Board's purview would allow the state to identify
programs to assist inmates who will need medical services upon
release.
"Furthermore, MediCal has been expanded to previously uncovered
populations in California, including single men making less than
133% of the federal poverty rate. Under the expansion, a
portion of individuals currently sentenced, and those recently
released, are now eligible for MediCal. The Board should review
health care programs to better understand ways to help formerly
incarcerated individuals take advantage of the recent MediCal
expansion.
"AB 2570 requires the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board
to review and examine health care programs that are offered to
inmates and parolees. This would allow the Board to make
recommendations to the Legislature on any possible remedies that
would make these programs more efficient and effective."
Please see the policy committee analysis for a full discussion
of this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Stella Choe / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744
FN: 0004940