AB 1672,
as amended, Mathis. Veterans courts:begin delete pilot program.end deletebegin insert Judicial Council study.end insert
Existing law establishes a statewide system of courts with a superior court of one or more judges in each county. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to prescribe the methods, means, and standards for electronic collection of data related to court administration, practice, and procedure.
end insertbegin insertThis bill would require the Judicial Council to conduct, until January 1, 2018, a study on the impact of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice system and the use of technology to deliver veterans court services to counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts, if funds are received for the study, as specified. The bill would require the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature on the results of the study, as specified, on or before June 1, 2019.
end insertExisting 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.
end deleteThis 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.
end deleteThis 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.
end deleteVote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
begin insertSection 68530 is added to the end insertbegin insertGovernment Codeend insertbegin insert,
2to read:end insert
(a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the
4purpose of implementing this section, the Judicial Council shall,
5commencing on January 1, 2017, and concluding on January 1,
62018, study the following:
7(1) The impact of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans
8treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice
9system, including, but not limited to, the impact on mental health,
10homelessness, employment, social stability, and substance abuse.
11(2) The use of technology to deliver veterans court services to
12counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts.
13(b) On or before June 1, 2019,
the Judicial Council shall report
14to the Legislature on the results of the study. The report shall
15include recommendations regarding the expansion of veterans
16court services to counties without veterans courts or veterans
17treatment courts, including the feasibility and implementation of
P3 1technology that will support that expansion. The report shall be
2submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
3Code.
4(c) Fifty percent of the funds required for the study and report
5described in this section shall be funded by private sources, and
650 percent of the funds required for the study shall be funded by
7the state, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
8(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020,
9and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
10is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.
Title 2.7 (commencing with Section 760) is added
12to Part 2 of the Penal Code, to read:
13
(a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the purpose
17of implementing this title, the Judicial Council shall establish and
18implement a pilot program for the purpose of establishing veterans
19courts in counties adjacent to the County of San Luis Obispo that,
20as of January 1, 2017, do not have veterans courts or veterans
21treatment courts.
22(b) The pilot program established and implemented pursuant to
23subdivision (a) shall promote sobriety, recovery, and stability for
24veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system and
25whose court cases are affected by issues such as addiction, mental
26illness, and cooccurring disorders.
27(c) To provide the services described in subdivision (a), the
28Chief Justice may assign an active or retired judge to sit in one or
29more courts, and to travel between more than one court, as deemed
30appropriate by the Chief Justice.
31(d) The pilot program may be funded by public or private funds.
32There is established the San Luis Obispo Regional Veterans Courts
33Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys received for
34the purpose of implementing this title shall be deposited in the
35fund and shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
36(e) The pilot program shall conclude on January 1, 2020.
This title shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020,
38and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
39is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.
The Legislature finds and declares that a special law
2is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable
3within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California
4Constitution because of the unique need to establish veterans court
5services in the region surrounding the County of San Luis Obispo.
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