BILL NUMBER: AB 1672	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 28, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 8, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  FEBRUARY 23, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mathis
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Chang   and Chávez   ) 

                        JANUARY 15, 2016

   An act to add and repeal Section 68530 of the Government Code,
relating to courts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1672, as amended, Mathis. Veterans and community courts:
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 veterans courts or veterans
treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice
system, the impact on veterans of lack of access to veterans courts
or veterans treatment courts in those counties that do not have them,
the utility of community courts as a substitute for veterans courts
or veterans treatment courts, 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.
   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 and
assess the following:
   (1) The impact of veterans courts or veterans treatment courts on
veterans involved with the criminal justice system, including, but
not limited to, the impact on recidivism, mental health,
homelessness, employment, social stability, and substance abuse.
   (2) The impact of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans
treatment courts on veterans involved in the criminal justice system
in counties that do not have veterans courts or veterans treatment
courts.
   (3) The utility of community courts as a substitute for veterans
courts in  those  counties that do not have veterans
courts or veterans treatment courts.
   (4) 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.