AB 1672, as introduced, Mathis. Veterans courts: pilot program.
Existing law, Section 6 of Article VI of the California Constitution, establishes the Judicial Council, chaired by the Chief Justice. Existing law authorizes the Chief Justice to expedite judicial business and equalize the work of judges by, among other things, assigning an active or retired judge to another court, as specified.
This bill would require the Judicial Council to establish and implement a pilot program for the purpose of establishing Veterans Courts in counties adjacent to the County of San Luis Obispo that, as of January 1, 2017, do not have veterans courts or veterans treatment courts, if funds are received for that purpose. The bill would authorize the Chief Justice to assign an active or retired judge to sit in one or more courts, and to travel between more than one court for the purpose of providing veterans court services. The bill would authorize the receipt of public or private funds for the implementation of the pilot program and establish the San Luis Obispo Regional Veterans Courts Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury for the deposit of those funds, which would be subject to appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would conclude the pilot program on January 1, 2020.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of San Luis Obispo and adjacent counties.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Title 2.7 (commencing with Section 760) is added
2to Part 2 of the Penal Code, to read:
3
(a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the purpose
7of implementing this title, the Judicial Council shall establish and
8implement a pilot program for the purpose of establishing veterans
9courts in counties adjacent to the County of San Luis Obispo that,
10as of January 1, 2017, do not have veterans courts or veterans
11treatment courts.
12(b) The pilot program established and implemented pursuant to
13subdivision (a) shall promote sobriety, recovery, and stability for
14veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system and
15whose court cases are affected by issues such as addiction, mental
16illness, and cooccurring disorders.
17(c) To provide the services described in subdivision
(a), the
18Chief Justice may assign an active or retired judge to sit in one or
19more courts, and to travel between more than one court, as deemed
20appropriate by the Chief Justice.
21(d) The pilot program may be funded by public or private funds.
22There is established the San Luis Obispo Regional Veterans Courts
23Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys received for
24the purpose of implementing this title shall be deposited in the
25fund and shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
26(e) The pilot program shall conclude on January 1, 2020.
This title shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020,
28and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
29is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.
The Legislature finds and declares that a special law
31is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable
32within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California
P3 1Constitution because of the unique need to establish veterans court
2services in the region surrounding the County of San Luis Obispo.
O
99