BILL ANALYSIS Ó
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 556|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 556
Author: De León (D)
Amended: 5/4/15
Vote: 21
SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/28/15
AYES: Hancock, Anderson, Leno, Liu, McGuire, Monning, Stone
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: Victims of crime: indemnification: applications
SOURCE: Californians for Safety and Justice
DIGEST: This bill requires the Victims Compensation and
Government Claims Board (VCGCB) to 1) annually post on its
Internet Web site progress and current average time of
processing applications, the number of incomplete applications
received and the number of applications approved and denied; and
2) define "time processing applications" as the period of time
that begins with the date the board receives an application and
ends when a decision to approve or deny the application has been
made and notice sent to the applicant.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
SB 556
Page 2
1)Establishes the VCGCB to operate the California Victim
Compensation Program (CalVCP). (Gov. Code §§ 13950 et. seq.)
2)Provides than an application for compensation shall be filed
with VCGCB in the manner determined by the VCGCB. (Gov. Code
§ 13952, subd.(a).)
3)Provides that the VCGCB shall approve or deny applications
within an average of 90 calendar days and no later than 180
from "of acceptance" of the application by the board or victim
center. Requires the VCGCB report quarterly to the
Legislature until it has met these time requirements for two
consecutive quarters.
4)Requires, if the VCGCB does not approve or deny a claim within
"180 days of the date it is accepted," it advise the applicant
in writing of the reasons for the failure to rule on the
application. (Gov. Code § 13958.)
This bill:
1)Requires the VCGCB to annually post on its Internet Web site
the following:
Progress and current average time of processing
applications;
The number of incomplete applications received; and
The number of approved and denied applications.
1)Defines "time processing applications" as the period of time
that begins with the date the VCGCB receives an application
and ends when a decision to approve or deny the application
has been made and notice sent to the applicant.
Background
The Legislature and the State Auditor have evaluated the VCGCB a
number of times over the past decade. A consistent concern has
been the length of time the VCGCB takes to review and act on
SB 556
Page 3
applications for assistance. As noted above, the Legislature
has set standards for the VCGCB to meet in this regard.
However, it appears that it has been difficult to determine if
the VCGCB has met the standards for approving or denying
applications. This bill defines what constitutes the time for
processing an application and requires posting of data and
information so that the VCGCB's performance in acting on
applications in a timely fashion can be evaluated.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 5/12/15)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/12/15)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author:
The California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP
helps victims by reimbursing or covering victims for
expenses resulting from certain violent crimes,
including medical treatment, mental health services,
and lost income. A crime victim must first apply to
the program to determine eligibility. Some
applications get held up in the process for extended
lengths of time, leaving many eligible victims stuck
with paying bills out of pocket or unable to receive
treatment or services.
To curb delays, starting in 2003 the Legislature
required CalVCP to act on applications within an
average of 90 days, but no later than 180 days, and
required the program to report back to the Legislature
whenever the 90-day-average standard was not being
SB 556
Page 4
met. In 2004, the board changed the method of
calculating the processing time by starting the period
only when it accepts a completed application and not
including the length of time an application was
submitted as incomplete. The current method used by
CalVCP is not a true reflection of how long it takes
the program to process applications and may be masking
a problem of lengthy processing times that hinders
crime victims in their efforts in rehabilitation and
moving on with their lives.
This bill will provide public accountability and
transparency in the CalVCP application process.
Victims and the Legislature can adequately assess the
performance of the CalVCP and determine if
improvements in the process should be made.
Prepared by: Jerome McGuire / PUB. S. /
5/13/15 15:56:02
**** END ****