Amended in Assembly March 17, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2177

Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

February 18, 2016

An act begin insert to add Section 13835.9 to the Penal Code, end insert relating to victims of crime.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2177, as amended, Maienschein. Victims of crime: federal Victims of Crime begin delete Act. end delete begin insert Act funding: advisory committee. end insert

begin insert

Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to make available various funds to programs that provide supportive services to the victims of crime.

end insert begin insert

This bill would establish the ​Victims of Crime Act Funding Advisory Committee, composed of 17 specified members who are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The bill would require the office to seek the recommendation of the committee regarding the distribution of funds received by the state pursuant to the federal Victims of Crime Act, also known as VOCA, before make a distribution, of any kind, of those funds. The bill would specifically require the committee to comply with Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.

end insert begin delete

Existing law encourages the Department of Justice to utilize federal Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) funds to implement provisions of law relating to the Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program.

end delete begin delete

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation regarding the transparency of the Office of Emergency Services’ distribution process for federal Victims of Crime Act grant funding.

end delete

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 13835.9 is added to the end insert begin insert Penal Code end insert begin insert , to
read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 13835.9. end insert   

(a) The Office of Emergency Services shall seek the
recommendation of the ​Victims of Crime Act Funding Advisory
Committee, established by this section, regarding the distribution
of funds received by the state pursuant to the federal Victims of
Crime Act, also known as VOCA, before make a distribution, of
any kind, of those funds.

(b) (1) The Victims of Crime Act Funding Advisory Committee
is hereby established within the Office of Emergency Services and
shall be composed of the following 17 members who are appointed
by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor:

(A) One member who represents law enforcement.

(B) Eight members who have been a victim of a crime.

(C) Eight members who represent the interests of organizations
that specialize in providing services to the victims of crime.

(2) The committee shall elect a chairperson from its membership.

(3) The members shall serve without compensation.

(4) The committee shall comply with the Bagley-Keene Open
Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of
Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government
Code).

end insert

begin delete

SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation regarding the transparency of the Office of Emergency
Services’ distribution process for federal Victims of Crime Act
grant funding.

end delete