BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1802 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 6, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Lorena Gonzalez, Chair AB 1802 (Chávez) - As Introduced February 8, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Public Safety |Vote:|7 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. AB 1802 Page 2 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: AB 1802 Page 3 '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 AB 1802 Page 4