BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                        SCR 44|
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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SCR 44
          Author:   Nielsen (R)
          Introduced:4/20/15  
          Vote:     21  

           SUBJECT:   Crime Victims Rights Week


          SOURCE:    Author


          DIGEST:  This resolution declares the week of April 19, 2015, to  
          April 25, 2015, inclusive, as Crime Victims' Rights Week.


          ANALYSIS:   This resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings:


          1)Violent crime continues to exist in California, and crime in  
            one part of the state, or crime against one person, affects  
            our entire sense of well-being.  All Californians are affected  
            by crime, not just the victims of violent crime.

          2)Since 1981, National Crime Victims' Rights Week has raised  
            awareness of the special needs of crime victims.


          3)The respect and protection of victims' rights within the legal  
            process is one of the most critical components of an effective  
            criminal justice system.  Victims and witnesses of crime  
            require special attention to ensure that they are thoroughly  
            informed about, and effectively participate in, the criminal  
            justice system.









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          4)To the maximum extent allowed by law, victims of violent crime  
            should receive compensation for their losses.


          5)The remembrances observed during National Crime Victims'  
            Rights Week promote awareness of victims' issues and  
            acknowledge the combined efforts of citizens, the government,  
            and the criminal justice system to improve victims' services  
            in California.


          This resolution declares the week of April 19, 2015, to April  
          25, 2015, inclusive, as Crime Victims' Rights Week.


          Prior legislation


          ACR 45 (Perea, Chapter 34, Statutes of 2011) proclaimed the week  
          of April 10, 2011, to April 16, 2011, inclusive, as Crime  
          Victims' Rights Week.


          ACR 153 (Nielsen, 2010) would have recognized the week of April  
          18, 2010, through April 24, 2010, as Crime Victims' Rights Week.


          ACR 59 (Nielsen, Chapter 33, Statutes of 2009) recognized the  
          week of April 26, 2009, through May 2, 2009, as Crime Victims'  
          Rights Week.


          FISCAL EFFECT:   Appropriation:    No          Fiscal  
          Com.:NoLocal:    No


          SUPPORT:   (Verified4/22/15)


          None received









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                                                                     Page  3




          OPPOSITION:   (Verified4/22/15)


          None received


          ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:     According to the author, 


               Senate Concurrent Resolution 44 designates April 19 through  
               April 25 as Crime Victims' Rights Week. The resolution  
               provides an opportunity to emphasize challenges faced by  
               crime victims and to emphasize the ongoing struggle to  
               establish victims' rights. We must always prioritize  
               affording victims with the support they need to pursue  
               justice and recovery.


               Crime victims and their families suffer so much in dealing  
               with their tragedies. It can be agonizing for them to move  
               forward with their lives. While they will not have closure,  
               they can find justice in a better criminal justice system. 


               To ensure balance in our criminal justice system, the  
               Legislature needs to establish and protect fundamental  
               rights for crime victims and their families.

          Prepared by:Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
          4/22/15 16:20:37
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