BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1324
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB
1324 (Hancock)
As Amended August 18, 2016
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE: 39-0
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+-----------------------+---------------------|
|Public Safety |7-0 |Jones-Sawyer, | |
| | |Melendez, Lackey, | |
| | |Lopez, Low, Quirk, | |
| | |Santiago | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Extends the sunset from January 1, 2017, to January 1,
2019, for provisions allowing the Victim Compensation Board to
reimburse crime victims for violence-peer-counseling services.
EXISTING LAW:
SB 1324
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1)Establishes the Victim Compensation Board (board) to operate
the Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP).
2)Authorizes the board to reimburse for pecuniary loss for the
following types of losses:
a) The amount of medical or medical-related expenses
incurred by the victim, subject to specified limitations.
b) The amount of out-patient psychiatric, psychological or
other mental health counseling-related expenses incurred by
the victim, as specified, including peer counseling
services.
c) The expenses of non-medical remedial care and treatment
rendered in accordance with a religious method of healing
recognized by state law.
d) Compensation equal to the loss of income or loss of
support, or both, that a victim or derivative victim incurs
as a direct result of the victim's injury or the victim's
death, subject to specified limitations.
e) Cash payment to, or on behalf of, the victim for job
retraining or similar employment-oriented services.
f) The expense of installing or increasing residential
security, not to exceed $1,000, with respect to a crime
that occurred in the victim's residence, upon verification
by law enforcement to be necessary for the personal safety
of the victim or by a mental health treatment provider to
be necessary for the emotional well-being of the victim.
SB 1324
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g) The expense of renovating or retrofitting a victim's
residence or a vehicle to make them accessible or
operational, if it is medically necessary.
h) Expenses incurred in relocating, as specified, if the
expenses are determined by law enforcement to be necessary
for the personal safety or by a mental health treatment
provider to be necessary for the emotional well-being of
the victim.
3)Allows both victims and derivative victims to be reimbursed
for out-patient mental-health counseling expenses, including
violence peer-counseling services.
4)Defines "violence peer counseling" as "counseling by a
violence peer counselor for the purpose of rendering advice or
assistance for victims of violent crime and their families."
FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "SB 1324 is important to
ensuring that we support physical and emotional recovery for
Californians injured by gun or other violence by extending peer
counseling services and reimbursement through the Victims
Compensation Fund. By providing victims with
culturally-competent health services, we will not only help them
with their basic health needs following a traumatic episode, but
we will reduce overall gun violence by supporting intervention
and de-escalation efforts."
Please see the policy committee analysis for a full discussion
of this bill.
SB 1324
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Analysis Prepared by:
Sandy Uribe / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744 FN:
0004411