BILL NUMBER: AB 1672 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 23, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mathis
JANUARY 15, 2016
An act to add and repeal Title 2.7 (commencing with
Section 760) of Part 2 of the Penal Section 68530 to
the Government Code, relating to courts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1672, as amended, Mathis. Veterans courts: pilot
program. Judicial Council study.
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.
This 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.
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:
SECTION 1. Section 68530 is added to the
Government Code , to read:
68530. (a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the purpose
of implementing this section, the Judicial Council shall, commencing
on January 1, 2017, and concluding on January 1, 2018, study the
following:
(1) The impact of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans
treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice
system, including, but not limited to, the impact on mental health,
homelessness, employment, social stability, and substance abuse.
(2) The use of technology to deliver veterans court services to
counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts.
(b) On or before June 1, 2019, the Judicial Council shall report
to the Legislature on the results of the study. The report shall
include recommendations regarding the expansion of veterans court
services to counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment
courts, including the feasibility and implementation of technology
that will support that expansion. The report shall be submitted in
compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(c) Fifty percent of the funds required for the study and report
described in this section shall be funded by private sources, and 50
percent of the funds required for the study shall be funded by the
state, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends
that date.
SECTION 1. Title 2.7 (commencing with Section
760) is added to Part 2 of the Penal Code, to read:
TITLE 2.7. Veterans Courts Pilot Program
760. (a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the purpose
of implementing this title, the Judicial Council shall 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.
(b) The pilot program established and implemented pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall promote sobriety, recovery, and stability for
veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system and whose
court cases are affected by issues such as addiction, mental illness,
and cooccurring disorders.
(c) To provide the services described in subdivision (a), the
Chief Justice may assign an active or retired judge to sit in one or
more courts, and to travel between more than one court, as deemed
appropriate by the Chief Justice.
(d) The pilot program may be funded by public or private funds.
There is established the San Luis Obispo Regional Veterans Courts
Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys received for the
purpose of implementing this title shall be deposited in the fund and
shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
(e) The pilot program shall conclude on January 1, 2020.
765. This title shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that
a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made
applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the
California Constitution because of the unique need to establish
veterans court services in the region surrounding the County of San
Luis Obispo.