BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 580|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 580
Author: Leno (D)
Amended: 4/17/13
Vote: 21
SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE : 7-0, 4/23/13
AYES: Hancock, Anderson, Block, De León, Knight, Liu, Steinberg
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 5/23/13
AYES: De León, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
SUBJECT : Crime victims: trauma recovery center grants
SOURCE : Californians for Safety and Justice
DIGEST : This bill authorizes the California Victim
Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB) to administer a
grant program to award, upon appropriation of the Legislature,
up to $2 million annually to trauma recovery centers (TRCs), as
specified.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Creates the Victims of Crime Program, administered by the
VCGCB to reimburse victims of crime for the pecuniary losses
they suffer as a direct result of criminal acts.
Indemnification is made from the Restitution Fund, which is
continuously appropriated to the VCGCB for these purposes.
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2.Authorizes reimbursement to a victim for "the medical or
medical related expenses incurred by the victim."
3.Provides that the total award to or on behalf of each victim
or derivative victim may not exceed $35,000, except that this
amount may be increased to $70,000 if federal funds for that
increase are available.
4.Provides that the VCGBC shall enter into an interagency
agreement with the University of California, San Francisco to
establish a recovery center for victims of crime at the San
Francisco General Hospital for comprehensive and integrated
services to victims of crime, subject to conditions set by the
VCGCB. The University Regents must approve the agreement and
the section shall only be implemented to the extent that
funding is appropriated for that purpose.
This bill:
1.Authorizes the VCGCB to administer a program to evaluate
applications and award grants to TRCs.
2.Authorizes the VCGCB to award grants of up to $2 million
annually and specifies grants must be funded solely from the
Restitution Fund.
3.Provides that grant awards to TRCs must demonstrate that they
serve as a community resource by providing services, including
making presentations and providing training to law
enforcement, community-based agencies, and other health care
providers on the identification and effects of violent crime,
as well as any other related criteria required by the VCGCB.
4.Authorizes the VCGCB to award a grant providing funding for up
to a maximum period of three years, with any unexpended funds
after the specified grant period reverting to the Restitution
Fund. Prohibits TRCs from receiving more than one grant for
any period of time.
5.Provides that the VCGCB shall not receive, evaluate, or
approve applications for TRC grants in a fiscal year unless
the Restitution Fund is projected to have a year-end fund
reserve equal to, or greater than, 25% of total budgeted
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expenditures for the fund, as projected in the January
Governor's budget.
6.Provides that grants awarded to TRCs shall not result in a
year-end balance to the Restitution Fund of less than 25% of
total budgeted expenditures for the fund, as projected in the
January Governor's budget.
7.Requires TRCs awarded grants to report to VCGCB annually on
how grant funds were spent, and in order to ensure federal
compliance governing federal matching funds for victims'
services, each TRC must submit forms and data as requested to
allow the VCGCB to receive the 60% federal matching funds for
eligible victim services and allowable expenses.
8.Defines a "trauma recovery center" as a center that provides
all of the following resources, treatments, and recovery
services to crime victims:
A. Mental health services.
B. Assertive community-based outreach and clinical case
management.
C. Coordination of care among medical and mental health
care providers, law enforcement agencies, and other social
services.
D. Services to family members and loved ones of homicide
victims.
E. A multidisciplinary staff of clinicians that includes
psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, annual costs
of up to $2 million from the Restitution Fund (Special Fund),
subject to appropriation by the Legislature and specific
Restitution Fund reserve thresholds, for grants to be awarded to
TRCs. Increased administrative workload to VCGCB to develop
criteria for granting awards, monitor the use of grant funds,
and facilitate applications for federal matching grants.
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SUPPORT : (Verified 5/23/13)
Californians for Safety and Justice (source)
American College of Emergency Physicians - California Chapter
California Catholic Conference
California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
California Hospital Association
California Hospital Conference
California Medical Association
California Police Chiefs Association
California Protective Parents Association
City and County of San Francisco
City of San Leandro Police Department
County of San Bernardino
Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership
Taxpayers for Improving Public Safety
Youth Law Center
OPPOSITION : (Verified 5/23/13)
California District Attorneys Association
Crime Victims Action Alliance
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Californians for Safety and Justice
writes:
The results of TRC are astounding. Survivors of crime who
received services through the TRC saw huge increases in
health and wellness - 74% show and improvement in mental
health, and 51% demonstrate an improvement in physical
health.
These positive outcomes have other positive effects for
survivors of crime and their communities. People who
receive services at the TRC are 56% more likely to return
to employment, contributing both to their families and
their communities. The TRC also increases public safety,
as people who receive services are 44% more likely to
cooperate with the district attorney, and 69% more likely
to cooperate with law enforcement. All this is provided at
approximately two-thirds the cost of traditional providers.
The trauma recovery center model is a breakthrough in best
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practices to support victims of crime. Through its
trauma-informed lens, one-stop center approach, victims and
survivors get quality comprehensive support. It reduces
repeat victimization and saves public resources.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : The Crime Victims Action Alliance
writes:
Though the Victim Compensation Fund has been able to
recover somewhat from the funds that were depleted by $80
million dollars in 2009 to help balance the state's budget,
it is still a fragile fund. AB 109 has created some
challenges and unanswered questions for collecting
restitution and the immediate future of the fund is not
certain.
SB 580 jeopardizes the current and long-term financial
stability of the State Restitution Fund by funding $2
million dollar grants to trauma centers. The State
Restitution Fund is still in a very fragile state. The
original intent of the State Restitution Fund is to provide
direct financial compensation to help victims obtain
assistance after becoming a victim of crime. SB 580
undermines the original intent of the State Restitution
Fund and may place victims throughout the state in a
position of not being able to receive the assistance they
so desperately need.
JG:ej 5/23/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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