BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1110 Page 1 SENATE THIRD READING SB 1110 (Jackson) As Amended July 3, 2014 Majority vote SENATE VOTE : 35-0 PUBLIC SAFETY 7-0 -------------------------------- |Ayes:|Ammiano, Melendez, | | |Jones-Sawyer, Quirk, | | |Skinner, Stone, Waldron | | | | -------------------------------- SUMMARY : Requires the court to inform defendants at arraignment about the availability of restorative relief provisions for defendants that are current or former members of the military. Specifically, this bill : 1)Requires the Judicial Council to revise its military service form to include information explaining restorative relief provisions of the Penal Code applying to defendants having active duty or veteran military status, as well as the contact information for the county veterans' service office. 2)Specifies that "active duty or veteran status" includes active military duty service, reserve duty service, national guard service, and veteran status. 3)Requires the court to advise the defendant that certain current or former members of the military are eligible for specific forms of restorative relief under the Penal Code. 4)Requires the court to advise the defendant that he or she may request a copy of the Judicial Council form for notification of military status which explains those rights. 5)Requires the court to advise the defendant that he or she should consult with counsel before submitting the form and that he or she may decline to provide the information without penalty. 6)States that if the defendant files the form for notification of military status, then the form shall be served on defense SB 1110 Page 2 counsel and the prosecuting attorney to determine eligibility for veterans' restorative relief. 7)Requires that a copy of the Judicial Council form for notification of military status be transmitted to the county Veterans Services Officer for confirmation of military service, and to the Department of Veterans Affairs. EXISTING LAW : 1)Provides that when a defendant is brought before the magistrate upon an arrest, either with or without warrant, on a charge of having committed a public offense, the magistrate must immediately inform him or her of the charge against him or her and of his or her right to the aid of counsel in every stage of the proceedings. 2)Requires the court, in the case of a person convicted of a criminal offense who would otherwise be sentenced to county jail or state prison and who alleges that he or she committed the offense as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, or psychological problems stemming from service in a combat theater in the United States military, to determine whether the defendant was a member of the military who served in combat and to assess whether the defendant suffers from PTSD, substance abuse, or psychological problems as a result of that service. 3)States that if the court concludes that a defendant convicted of a criminal offense was a member of the military suffering from PTSD, substance abuse, or psychological problems stemming from service in a combat theater and if the defendant is otherwise eligible for probation and the court places the defendant on probation, the court may order the defendant into a local, state, federal, or private, nonprofit treatment program for a period not to exceed that which the defendant would have served in state prison or county jail, provided the defendant agrees to participate in the program and the court determines that an appropriate treatment program exists. FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel. COMMENTS : According to the author, "Penal Code [Section] 1170.9 is a groundbreaking law designed to give our most traumatized SB 1110 Page 3 soldiers a chance to confront and overcome the wounds of war. It directs courts to consider treatment rather than incarceration when sentencing a defendant who serves or who has served in the military. "SB 1110 would identify the military and veterans status of defendants at arraignment, the first stage in the court process, so that those who are eligible may be considered for treatment rather than incarceration under Penal Code [Section] 1170.9. SB 1110 would save taxpayer money, prevent crime and unnecessary incarceration, and ensure that defendants' underlying conditions are addressed." Please see the policy committee analysis for a full discussion of this bill. Analysis Prepared by : Sandy Uribe / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744 FN: 0004243