BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1802
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Date of Hearing: April 6, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1802 (Chávez) - As Introduced February 8, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill expands the membership of the Victims Compensation and
Government Claims Board (board), from three to five members, to
include a victims' rights advocate and a provider of victims'
health services.
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor absorbable costs to the board to provide $50 per day for
attendance at meetings and necessary travel expenses to board
members who are not state officers.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Current law authorizes the board, composed of the
Secretary of Government Operations or his or her designee, the
Controller, and a third member to be appointed by the
Governor, to reimburse victims of crimes for pecuniary loss
for specified types of losses, including medical expenses,
mental-health counseling, loss of income or loss of support,
and installing or increasing residential security. Current
law also provides that if the board's third member is not a
state officer acting ex officio, that person shall be
compensated $50 per day of actual attendance at board
meetings, not to exceed eight meetings per month.
2)Purpose. According to the author, ""The Governor's proposal
to reorganize the VCGCB [board] to primarily handle victims
programs is a step in the right direction. This bill will
help ensure that the composition of the board is best suited
to take the lead as the primary administer of victims
programs."
This bill partially adopts the recommendations of the LAO by
adding to the membership of the board a victims' advocate and
a victims' services provider in the medical or mental-health
field.
3)Opposition: According to California Civil Liberties Advocacy,
"? the CCLA is concerned about the following language:
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'One member who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure
of, the Governor and an expert in the rights of crime victims
or a representative of a recognized organization that
advocates for the rights of crime victims.'
The CCLA strongly encourages the author to amend the bill to
define the qualifications of an 'expert' and to delete the
language allowing the Governor to appoint a representative of
a crime victims organization."
4)Prior Legislation:
a) AB 1317(Frazier), Chapter 352, Statutes of 2013, made
conforming name changes to properly reflect the assignment
and reorganization of the functions of state government
among newly-established executive entities, including for
membership on the board.
b) AB 702 (Jackson), Chapter 84, Statutes of 2003,
consolidated the board under the jurisdiction of the State
Consumer Services Agency and allowed the Secretary of the
State Consumer Services Agency or his or her designee to
serve on the board.
1)Analysis Prepared by:Pedro Reyes / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
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