BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2440
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2440 (Gatto) - As Amended April 19, 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Public Safety |Vote:|7 - 0 |
|Committee: | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill appropriates $15 million from the General Fund to fund
a County DNA Identification Fund, to assist local law
enforcement agencies in investigations involving biological
evidence.
FISCAL EFFECT:
AB 2440
Page 2
One-time GF appropriations of $15 million.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose/Background. According to the author "AB 2440 will
ensure that local law enforcement has the necessary funding to
pursue DNA matches and investigate cold cases. Funds to local
law enforcement have been reduced in recent years, and the
resources to investigate and follow-up on DNA cold hits is
limited. Simultaneously, the value of DNA evidence has become
even more apparent, and state mandates requiring expedited
investigation of these leads has put additional tension on
already strained local resources. AB 2440 will provide
crucial funding to aid local law enforcement in the use of
this valuable investigatory tool."
2)Staff Comments. AB 2440 does not provide a mechanism for the
disbursement of funds to the counties. The committee may wish
appropriate the funds to a specific state agency who would
then provide the funds to counties based on some criteria,
such as population, crimes statistic, or historical allocation
for other funds.
3)Support. The Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers
Association supports funding to pursue DNA matches and
investigate cold cases.
AB 2440
Page 3
Analysis Prepared by:Pedro Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081