BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session SB 205 (Beall) - Proposition 47: evaluation study ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: April 9, 2015 |Policy Vote: PUB. S. 7 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: May 11, 2015 |Consultant: Jolie Onodera | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 205 would require the Department of Finance (DOF) to contract with a university to conduct a four-year evaluation of Proposition 47, as specified. This bill would also require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to collect data concerning incarceration changes prompted by the initiative and recidivism data for offenders resentenced pursuant to Proposition 47. Fiscal Impact: Contracted study : One-time costs potentially in excess of $2 million (General Fund) over four years to contract with a university for the mandated evaluation. This estimate is based on an annual cost of $500,000 per year. DOJ data collection : Potentially significant one-time costs of approximately $500,000 (General Fund) to collect, compile, and enable access to the specified data. Ongoing workload SB 205 (Beall) Page 1 of ? costs of about $100,000 (General Fund). Background: Current law reflects the provisions of Proposition 47, also known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, which was approved by the voters in November 2014. Proposition 47 reduced the penalties for certain drug and property crimes and directed that the resulting state savings be directed to mental health and substance abuse treatment, truancy and dropout prevention, and victims' services, as specified. The initiative also made additional changes to criminal laws. Current law, as enacted by Proposition 47, requires that by August 15 of each fiscal year beginning in 2016, the Controller disburse moneys deposited in the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund (SNSF) according to specified allocations: 25 percent to the Department of Education, to administer a grant program to public agencies aimed at improving outcomes for public school pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, by reducing truancy and supporting students who are at risk of dropping out of school or are victims of crime. 10 percent to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, to make grants to trauma recovery centers to provide services to victims of crime, as specified. 65 percent to the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), to administer a grant program to public agencies aimed at supporting mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and diversion programs for people in the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on programs that reduce recidivism of people convicted of less serious crimes, as specified, and those who have substance abuse and mental health problems. (Government Code § 7599.2(a).) In its report, The 2015-16 Budget: Implementation of Proposition 47, the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) noted the need for an evaluation of data and outcomes in order to ensure that SNSF dollars are being used effectively, stating, "This would serve two major purposes. First, it would ensure that programs are achieving the intended recidivism reduction goals in a cost-effective manner. Second, it would allow programs that have not previously been proven to reduce recidivism cost-effectively to demonstrate their ability to do so." SB 205 (Beall) Page 2 of ? Proposed Law: This bill: Requires DOF to select a public or private university through a competitive process to conduct a four -year evaluation assessing the process, outcomes, and costs of Proposition 47, including the number and characteristics of participants served by programs funded with grant moneys from the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund. o Requires the selected university to report to the Legislature, no later than January 1, 2017, and annually by that date for the following three years. o Requires that all data collected for the report be made publically available. Requires the DOJ to gather and compile information regarding the number of people released from state prisons and county jails pursuant to the provisions of Proposition 47 and the number of people released who are rearrested or reincarcerated within three years as compared to similar populations in the criminal justice system. o Requires this information to be made available upon request to the public and to the university selected to conduct the study. Related Legislation: None applicable. Staff Comments: The DOF has indicated potential costs of at least $500,000 annually based on the experience of other state agencies that have contracted with universities to do similar studies. To the extent automation enhancements are necessary, the DOJ would incur potentially significant one-time costs of approximately $500,000 to collect, compile, and enable access to the specified data. Ongoing workload costs are estimated at about $100,000 (General Fund). -- END -- SB 205 (Beall) Page 3 of ?