BILL NUMBER: SB 1976 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 961
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 29, 1998
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28, 1998
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 20, 1998
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 17, 1998
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 10, 1998
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 30, 1998
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 9, 1998
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 6, 1998
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 16, 1998
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 2, 1998
INTRODUCED BY Senator Mountjoy
FEBRUARY 19, 1998
An act to add Section 4536.5 to the Penal Code, and to amend
Sections 6600.05, 6601, 6602, 6602.5, 6603, 6609.1, 6609.2, and
6609.3 of, and to amend, repeal, and add Section 6604.1 of, the
Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to sex offenses, and
declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1976, Mountjoy. Sexually violent predators.
(1) Existing law provides that every person committed to a public
or private mental health facility as a mentally disordered sex
offender, who escapes from or who escapes while being conveyed to or
from that mental health facility, is punishable by imprisonment in
the state prison or in a county jail not to exceed one year.
This bill would, with respect to a person committed to a mental
health facility as a sexually violent predator, require the medical
director or person in charge of the facility to promptly notify
either the Department of Corrections' Sexually Violent Predator
Parole Coordinator or local law enforcement officials upon the
escape. This bill, to the extent it increases the duties of local
officials, would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) Existing law provides that Atascadero State Hospital shall be
used whenever a person is committed to a secure facility for mental
health treatment as a sex offender and is placed in a state hospital
under the direction of the State Department of Mental Health.
This bill would provide that Atascadero State Hospital shall be
used for this purpose only until a permanent housing and treatment
facility is available, and would provide that a permanent facility
for the housing and treatment of persons committed for mental health
treatment shall be located on a site or sites determined by the
Director of the State Department of Mental Health and the Director of
Corrections, with subsequent approval by the Legislature. The bill
would direct the State Department of Mental Health to operate this
facility, and would provide that, absent direct authorization by the
Legislature, only mentally disordered sex offenders shall be treated
therein.
(3) Under existing law, whenever the Director of Corrections
determines that an individual who is in custody, and who is either
serving a determinate prison sentence or whose parole has been
revoked, may be a sexually violent predator, the director is required
to refer the person for evaluation by the State Department of Mental
Health, as specified. If the State Department of Mental Health
determines that the person is a sexually violent predator, the
Director of Mental Health is required to forward a request for a
petition to be filed for commitment to the county in which the person
was convicted of the offense for which the person was committed to
the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections. Copies of the
evaluation reports are required to be made available to the
county-designated attorney who may file a petition for commitment.
This bill would provide that the county-designated attorney shall
notify the State Department of Mental Health of its decision
regarding the filing of a petition for commitment within 15 days of
making that decision.
(4) Existing law provides that a judge of the superior court shall
review the petition for commitment and determine whether there is
probable cause to believe that the individual named in the petition
is likely to engage in sexually violent predatory criminal behavior
upon his or her release.
This bill would require the court to notify the State Department
of Mental Health of the outcome of the probable cause hearing by
forwarding to the department a copy of the minute order of the court
within 15 days of the decision.
(5) Existing law requires a judge of the superior court to review
any petition submitted by an agency requesting an urgency review in
cases where an inmate's parole or temporary parole hold will expire
before a probable cause hearing is conducted and to determine whether
there is probable cause to believe that the individual named in the
petition is likely to engage in sexually violent predatory criminal
behavior upon his or her release.
This bill would provide that in no event shall more than 10
referrals be made to a superior court in any 30-day period for this
purpose except upon agreement of the presiding judge of the court,
the district attorney, the public defender, the sheriff, and the
Director of Mental Health.
By requiring increased duties and responsibilities of local
officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(6) Existing law provides that a person subject to commitment as a
sexually violent predator is entitled to specified rights, including
a trial by jury.
This bill would provide that the court shall notify the State
Department of Mental Health of the outcome of the trial by forwarding
to the department a copy of the minute order of the court within 72
hours of the decision.
(7) Existing law requires a person who is determined to be a
sexually violent predator to be committed for 2 years to the custody
of the State Department of Mental Health for appropriate treatment
and confinement in a secure facility, as specified. Existing law
also provides that, until January 1, 1999, this 2-year term of
commitment commences on the date upon which the court issues the
initial order of commitment and is not reduced by any time spent in a
secure facility prior to the order of commitment.
This bill would instead provide for the automatic repeal of these
provisions relating to the date of commencement and term of the
2-year commitment period on July 1, 2001, at which time these
provisions, minus the provision prohibiting the reduction of the term
of commitment by any time spent in a secure facility prior to the
order of commitment, would become operative.
(8) Existing law provides that if the court orders the immediate
release of a sexually violent predator, the State Department of
Mental Health shall notify the sheriff or chief of police, or both,
and the district attorney, who has jurisdiction over the community in
which the person is scheduled to be released at the time of release.
This bill would instead require the court to notify the Department
of Corrections' Sexually Violent Predator Parole Coordinator, and
require the Department of Corrections to notify the State Department
of Mental Health, as well as the other officials cited above, when
the court orders the immediate release of a sexually violent
predator. The bill also would provide that when the department makes
any recommendation to the court concerning either the release or
commitment of a sexually violent predator, it shall, at least 15 days
in advance of making its recommendation, notify specified local law
enforcement officials (a) where the person may be released, (b) where
the person last resided, or (c) in the county which filed for the
person's civil commitment. The bill would provide that if a person
is otherwise subject to parole, he or she shall remain in physical
custody for a period not to exceed 72 hours or until parole
arrangements are made by the Department of Corrections' Sexually
Violent Predator Parole Coordinator, whichever is sooner. The bill
would provide for the facilitation of timely parole arrangements, as
specified.
(9) Existing law authorizes a sheriff or chief of police to notify
appropriate persons upon the impending release of a sexually violent
predator.
This bill would expand this authorization to allow for
notification to appropriate persons of the disposition of a sexually
violent predator upon notice from the State Department of Mental
Health of its recommendation to the court in connection with a
commitment hearing.
(10) Existing law requires a sheriff or chief of police to notify
requesting parties of the impending release of a sexually violent
predator, but allows disclosure of the community in which the person
will be placed only if it is (a) in the county of a requesting
witness, victim, or family member, or (b) within 25 miles of the
actual residence of a requesting witness, victim, or family member.
This bill would provide that any person requesting notice shall be
informed of the identity of the court considering the conditional
release, recommitment hearing, or review of commitment status. The
bill would also allow victims, witnesses, and family members who
request notification to be informed of the community where the person
is scheduled to be placed if their actual residence is within 100
miles of that community.
(11) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund
to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide
and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed
$1,000,000.
This bill would provide that, with regard to an identified
mandate, no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified
reason.
With regard to other mandates, this bill would provide that, if
the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains
costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall
be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
(12) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statute.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 4536.5 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
4536.5. The medical director or person in charge of a state
hospital or other public or private mental health facility to which a
person has been committed under the provisions of Article 4
(commencing with Section 6600) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code, shall promptly notify the Department of
Corrections Sexually Violent Predator Parole Coordinator, the chief
of police of the city in which the hospital or facility is located,
or the sheriff of the county if the hospital or facility is located
in an unincorporated area, of the escape of the person, and shall
request the assistance of the chief of police or sheriff in
apprehending the person, and shall, within 48 hours of the escape of
the person, orally notify the court that made the commitment, the
prosecutor in the case, and the Department of Justice of the escape.
SEC. 2. Section 6600.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
6600.05. (a) Until a permanent housing and treatment facility is
available, Atascadero State Hospital shall be used whenever a person
is committed to a secure facility for mental health treatment
pursuant to this article and is placed in a state hospital under the
direction of the State Department of Mental Health unless there are
unique circumstances that would preclude the placement of a person at
that facility. If a state hospital is not used, the facility to be
used shall be located on a site or sites determined by the Director
of Corrections and the Director of Mental Health. In no case shall a
person committed to a secure facility for mental health treatment
pursuant to this article be placed at Metropolitan State Hospital or
Napa State Hospital.
(b) A permanent facility for the housing and treatment of persons
committed pursuant to this article shall be located on a site or
sites determined by the Director of Corrections and the Director of
Mental Health, with approval by the Legislature through a trailer
bill or other legislation. The State Department of Mental Health
shall be responsible for operation of the facility, including the
provision of treatment. In no event shall any persons other than
those placed pursuant to this article be housed or treated at a
facility established pursuant to this subdivision unless expressly
authorized by the Legislature.
SEC. 3. Section 6601 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
6601. (a) Whenever the Director of Corrections determines that an
individual who is in custody under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Corrections, and who is either serving a determinate
prison sentence or whose parole has been revoked, may be a sexually
violent predator, the director shall, at least six months prior to
that individual's scheduled date for release from prison, refer the
person for evaluation in accordance with this section. However, if
the inmate was received by the department with less than nine months
of his or her sentence to serve, or if the inmate's release date is
modified by judicial or administrative action, the director may refer
the person for evaluation in accordance with this section at a date
that is less than six months prior to the inmate's scheduled release
date.
(b) The person shall be screened by the Department of Corrections
and the Board of Prison Terms based on whether the person has
committed a sexually violent predatory offense and on a review of the
person's social, criminal, and institutional history. This
screening shall be conducted in accordance with a structured
screening instrument developed and updated by the State Department of
Mental Health in consultation with the Department of Corrections.
If as a result of this screening it is determined that the person is
likely to be a sexually violent predator, the Department of
Corrections shall refer the person to the State Department of Mental
Health for a full evaluation of whether the person meets the criteria
in Section 6600.
(c) The State Department of Mental Health shall evaluate the
person in accordance with a standardized assessment protocol,
developed and updated by the State Department of Mental Health, to
determine whether the person is a sexually violent predator as
defined in this article. The standardized assessment protocol shall
require assessment of diagnosable mental disorders, as well as
various factors known to be associated with the risk of reoffense
among sex offenders. Risk factors to be considered shall include
criminal and psychosexual history, type, degree, and duration of
sexual deviance, and severity of mental disorder.
(d) Pursuant to subdivision (c), the person shall be evaluated by
two practicing psychiatrists or psychologists, or one practicing
psychiatrist and one practicing psychologist, designated by the
Director of Mental Health. If both evaluators concur that the person
has a diagnosed mental disorder so that he or she is likely to
engage in acts of sexual violence without appropriate treatment and
custody, the Director of Mental Health shall forward a request for a
petition for commitment under Section 6602 to the county designated
in subdivision (i). Copies of the evaluation reports and any other
supporting documents shall be made available to the attorney
designated by the county pursuant to subdivision (i) who may file a
petition for commitment.
(e) If one of the professionals performing the evaluation pursuant
to subdivision (d) does not concur that the person meets the
criteria specified in subdivision (d), but the other professional
concludes that the person meets those criteria, the Director of
Mental Health shall arrange for further examination of the person by
two independent professionals selected in accordance with subdivision
(g).
(f) If an examination by independent professionals pursuant to
subdivision (e) is conducted, a petition to request commitment under
this article shall only be filed if both independent professionals
who evaluate the person pursuant to subdivision (e) concur that the
person meets the criteria for commitment specified in subdivision
(d). The professionals selected to evaluate the person pursuant to
subdivision (g) shall inform the person that the purpose of their
examination is not treatment but to determine if the person meets
certain criteria to be involuntarily committed pursuant to this
article. It is not required that the person appreciate or understand
that information.
(g) Any independent professional who is designated by the Director
of Corrections or the Director of Mental Health for purposes of this
section shall not be a state government employee, shall have at
least five years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of
mental disorders, and shall include psychiatrists and licensed
psychologists who have a doctoral degree in psychology. The
requirements set forth in this section also shall apply to any
professionals appointed by the court to evaluate the person for
purposes of any other proceedings under this article.
(h) If the State Department of Mental Health determines that the
person is a sexually violent predator as defined in this article, the
Director of Mental Health shall forward a request for a petition to
be filed for commitment under this article to the county designated
in subdivision (i). Copies of the evaluation reports and any other
supporting documents shall be made available to the attorney
designated by the county pursuant to subdivision (i) who may file a
petition for commitment in the superior court.
(i) If the county's designated counsel concurs with the
recommendation, a petition for commitment shall be filed in the
superior court of the county in which the person was convicted of the
offense for which he or she was committed to the jurisdiction of the
Department of Corrections. The petition shall be filed, and the
proceedings shall be handled, by either the district attorney or the
county counsel of that county. The county board of supervisors shall
designate either the district attorney or the county counsel to
assume responsibility for proceedings under this article.
(j) The time limits set forth in this section shall not apply
during the first year that this article is operative.
(k) If the person is otherwise subject to parole, a finding or
placement made pursuant to this article shall not toll, discharge, or
otherwise affect the term of parole pursuant to Article 1
(commencing with Section 3000) of Chapter 8 of Title 1 of Part 3 of
the Penal Code.
(l) Pursuant to subdivision (d), the attorney designated by the
county pursuant to subdivision (i) shall notify the State Department
of Mental Health of its decision regarding the filing of a petition
for commitment within 15 days of making that decision.
SEC. 4. Section 6602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
6602. (a) A judge of the superior court shall review the petition
and shall determine whether there is probable cause to believe that
the individual named in the petition is likely to engage in sexually
violent predatory criminal behavior upon his or her release. The
person named in the petition shall be entitled to assistance of
counsel at the probable cause hearing. If the judge determines there
is not probable cause, he or she shall dismiss the petition and any
person subject to parole shall report to parole. If the judge
determines that there is probable cause, the judge shall order that
the person remain in custody in a secure facility until a trial is
completed and shall order that a trial be conducted to determine
whether the person is, by reason of a diagnosed mental disorder, a
danger to the health and safety of others in that the person is
likely to engage in acts of sexual violence upon his or her release
from the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections or other
secure facility.
(b) The court shall notify the State Department of Mental Health
of the outcome of the probable cause hearing by forwarding to the
department a copy of the minute order of the court within 15 days of
the decision.
SEC. 5. Section 6602.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as
added by Section 4 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1998, is amended
to read:
6602.5. (a) No person may be placed in a state hospital pursuant
to the provisions of this article until there has been a
determination pursuant to Section 6601.3 or 6602 that there is
probable cause to believe that the individual named in the petition
is likely to engage in sexually violent predatory criminal behavior.
(b) The State Department of Mental Health shall identify each
person for whom a petition pursuant to this article has been filed
who is in a state hospital on or after January 1, 1998, and who has
not had a probable cause hearing pursuant to Section 6602. The State
Department of Mental Health shall notify the court in which the
petition was filed that the person has not had a probable cause
hearing. Copies of the notice shall be provided by the court to the
attorneys of record in the case. Within 30 days of notice by the
State Department of Mental Health, the court shall either order the
person removed from the state hospital and returned to local custody
or hold a probable cause hearing pursuant to Section 6602.
(c) In no event shall the number of persons referred pursuant to
subdivision (b) to the superior court of any county exceed 10 in any
30-day period, except upon agreement of the presiding judge of the
superior court, the district attorney, the public defender, the
sheriff, and the Director of Mental Health.
(d) This section shall be implemented in Los Angeles County
pursuant to a letter of agreement between the Department of Mental
Health, the Los Angeles County district attorney, the Los Angeles
County public defender, the Los Angeles County sheriff, and the Los
Angeles County superior court. The number of persons referred to the
superior court of Los Angeles County pursuant to subdivision (b)
shall be governed by the letter of agreement.
SEC. 6. Section 6603 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
6603. (a) A person subject to this article shall be entitled to a
trial by jury, the assistance of counsel, the right to retain
experts or professional persons to perform an examination on his or
her behalf, and have access to all relevant medical and psychological
records and reports. In the case of a person who is indigent, the
court shall appoint counsel to assist him or her, and, upon the
person's request, assist the person in obtaining an expert or
professional person to perform an examination or participate in the
trial on the person's behalf.
(b) The attorney petitioning for commitment under this article
shall have the right to demand that the trial be before a jury.
(c) If no demand is made by the person subject to this article or
the petitioning attorney, the trial shall be before the court without
jury.
(d) A unanimous verdict shall be required in any jury trial.
(e) The court shall notify the State Department of Mental Health
of the outcome of the trial by forwarding to the department a copy of
the minute order of the court within 72 hours of the decision.
SEC. 7. Section 6604.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as
added by Section 5 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1998, is amended
to read:
6604.1. (a) The two-year term of commitment provided for in
Section 6604 shall commence on the date upon which the court issues
the initial order of commitment pursuant to that section. The
two-year term shall not be reduced by any time spent in a secure
facility prior to the order of commitment. For subsequent extended
commitments, the term of commitment shall be from the date of the
termination of the previous commitment.
(b) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2001, and, as
of January 1, 2002, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
is enacted before January 1, 2002, deletes or extends the dates on
which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 8. Section 6604.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
6604.1. (a) The two-year term of commitment provided for in
Section 6604 shall commence on the date upon which the court issues
the initial order of commitment pursuant to that section. For
subsequent extended commitments, the term of commitment shall be from
the date of the termination of the previous commitment.
(b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2001.
SEC. 9. Section 6609.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
6609.1. (a) When the State Department of Mental Health makes a
recommendation to the court for community outpatient treatment for
any person committed as a sexually violent predator, it shall notify
the sheriff or chief of police, or both, the district attorney, or
the county's designated counsel, that have jurisdiction over the
following locations:
(1) The community in which the person may be released for
community outpatient treatment.
(2) The community in which the person maintained his or her last
legal residence as defined by Section 3003 of the Penal Code.
(3) The county which filed for the person's civil commitment
pursuant to this article.
The department shall also notify the Department of Corrections'
Sexually Violent Predator Parole Coordinator, if the person is
otherwise subject to parole pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with
Section 3000) of Chapter 8 of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code.
The notice shall be given at least 15 days prior to the department'
s submission of its recommendation to the court.
(b) When the State Department of Mental Health makes a
recommendation to pursue recommitment, a recommendation not to pursue
recommitment, or seeks a judicial review of commitment status
pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 6605, of any person committed
as a sexually violent predator, it shall provide written notice of
that action to the sheriff or chief of police, or both, and to the
district attorney, that have jurisdiction over the following
locations:
(1) The community in which the person maintained his or her last
legal residence as defined by Section 3003 of the Penal Code.
(2) The probable community in which the person will be released,
if recommending not to pursue recommitment.
(3) The county which filed for the person's civil commitment
pursuant to this article.
The State Department of Mental Health shall also notify the
Department of Corrections' Sexually Violent Predator Parole
Coordinator, if the person is otherwise subject to parole pursuant to
Article 1 (commencing with Section 3000) of Chapter 8 of Title 1 of
the Penal Code. The notice shall be made at least 15 days prior to
the department's submission of its recommendation to the court.
Those agencies receiving the notice referred to in this
subdivision shall have 15 days from receipt of the notice to provide
written comment to the department regarding the impending release.
Those comments shall be considered by the department, which may
modify its decision regarding the community in which the person is
scheduled to be released, based on those comments.
(c) If the court orders the release of a sexually violent
predator, the court shall notify the Department of Corrections
Sexually Violent Predator Parole Coordinator. The Department of
Corrections shall notify the State Department of Mental Health, the
sheriff or chief of police, or both, and the district attorney, that
have jurisdiction over the following locations:
(1) The community in which the person is to be released.
(2) The community in which the person maintained his or her last
legal residence as defined in Section 3003 of the Penal Code.
The Department of Corrections shall make the above notifications
regardless of whether the person released will be serving a term of
parole after release by the court.
(d) If the person is otherwise subject to parole pursuant to
Article 1 (commencing with Section 300) of Chapter 8 of Title 1 of
Part 3 of the Penal Code, to allow adequate time for the Department
of Corrections to make appropriate parole arrangements upon release
of the person, the person shall remain in physical custody for a
period not to exceed 72 hours or until parole arrangements are made
by the Department of Corrections' Sexually Violent Predator Parole
Coordinator, whichever is sooner. To facilitate timely parole
arrangements, notification to the Department of Corrections' Sexually
Violent Predator Parole Coordinator of the pending release shall be
made by telephone or facsimile and, to the extent possible, notice of
the possible release shall be made in advance of the proceeding or
decision determining whether to release the person.
(e) The notice required by this section shall be made whether or
not a request has been made pursuant to Section 6609.
(f) The time limits imposed by this section are not applicable
where the release date of a sexually violent predator has been
advanced by a judicial or administrative process or procedure that
could not have reasonably been anticipated by the State Department of
Mental Health and where, as the result of the time adjustments,
there is less than 30 days remaining on the commitment before the
inmate's release, but notice shall be given as soon as practicable.
In no case shall notice required by this section to the appropriate
agency be later than the day of release.
(g) The provisions of this section are severable. If any
provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that
invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can
be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
SEC. 10. Section 6609.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
6609.2. (a) When any sheriff or chief of police is notified by
the State Department of Mental Health of its recommendation to the
court concerning the disposition of a sexually violent predator
pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 6609.1, that sheriff or
chief of police may notify any person designated by the sheriff or
chief of police as an appropriate recipient of the notice.
(b) A law enforcement official authorized to provide notice
pursuant to this section, and the public agency or entity employing
the law enforcement official, shall not be liable for providing or
failing to provide notice pursuant to this section.
SEC. 11. Section 6609.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
6609.3. (a) At the time a notice is sent pursuant to subdivisions
(a) and (b) of Section 6609.1, the sheriff, chief of police, or
district attorney notified of the release shall also send a notice to
persons described in Section 679.03 of the Penal Code who have
requested a notice, informing those persons of the fact that the
person who committed the sexually violent offense may be released
together with information identifying the court that will consider
the conditional release, recommendation regarding recommitment, or
review of commitment status pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section
6605. When a person is approved by the court to be conditionally
released, notice of the community in which the person is scheduled to
reside shall also be given only if it is (1) in the county of
residence of a witness, victim, or family member of a victim who has
requested notice, or (2) within 100 miles of the actual residence of
a witness, victim, or family member of a victim who has requested
notice. If, after providing the witness, victim, or next of kin with
the notice, there is any change in the release date or the community
in which the person is to reside, the sheriff, chief of police, or
the district attorney shall provide the witness, victim, or next of
kin with the revised information.
(b) At the time a notice is sent pursuant to subdivision (c) of
Section 6609.1 the Department of Corrections shall also send a notice
to persons described in Section 679.03 of the Penal Code who have
requested a notice informing those persons of the fact that the
person who committed the sexually violent offense has been released.
(c) In order to be entitled to receive the notice set forth in
this section, the requesting party shall keep the sheriff, chief of
police, and district attorney who were notified under Section 679.03
of the Penal Code, informed of his or her current mailing address.
SEC. 12. No reimbursement is required by Section 1 of this act
pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution
for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district because in that regard this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
However, notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if
the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains
other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies
and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7
(commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
Government Code. If the statewide cost of the claim for
reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000),
reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.
Notwithstanding Section 17580 of the Government Code, unless
otherwise specified, the provisions of this act shall become
operative on the same date that the act takes effect pursuant to the
California Constitution.
SEC. 13. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within
the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into
immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to provide immediate protection to the public from
sexually violent predators who will be released in the near future,
it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.