BILL NUMBER: AB 220 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 7, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 30, 2005
INTRODUCED BY Committee on Public Safety (Leno (Chair), Cohn,
Dymally, Goldberg, Ruskin, and Spitzer)
FEBRUARY 3, 2005
An act to amend Sections 4801, 5075.5, and 13823.9 of the Penal
Code, to amend Section 3030 of the Family Code, and to amend Section
340.3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to domestic violence.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 220, as amended, Committee on Public Safety. Domestic
violence.
Existing law permits the Board of Prison Terms, at parole
hearings, to consider evidence that a prisoner suffered from battered
woman women's syndrome at the time the
crime was committed.
This bill would change the reference from "battered woman
women's syndrome" to "intimate partner
battering."
Existing law provides that commissioners and deputy commissioners
who conduct parole hearings must be trained in domestic violence and
battered woman women's syndrome.
This bill would change the reference from "battered woman
women's syndrome" to "intimate partner
battering."
Existing law directs that health care providers be trained in the
dynamics of victimization, including battered woman
women's syndrome.
This bill would change the reference to intimate partner
battering.
Existing law provides that a court may consider expert testimony
about battered woman women's syndrome
when considering whether or not to grant custody to a parent who has
been convicted of murdering the other parent of the child who is the
subject of the order.
This bill would change the reference from "battered
womans women's syndrome" to "intimate partner
battering."
Existing law precludes a civil action against a defendant based
upon a conviction for murder or attempted murder if the defendant
presented substantial evidence at trial that he or she was the victim
of battered woman women's syndrome, or
if the defendant's parole was granted due to evidence of battered
woman women's syndrome that was
presented to the Board of Prison Terms.
This bill would change the reference from "battered
womans women's syndrome" to "intimate partner
battering."
The bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 3030 of
the Family Code made by this bill and SB 594 to take effect if both
bills are chaptered and this bill is chaptered last.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 340.3 of the Code of
Civil Procedure is amended to read:
340.3.
(a) Unless a longer period is prescribed for a specific action, in
any action for damages against a defendant based upon the defendant'
s commission of a felony offense for which the defendant has been
convicted, the time for commencement of the action shall be within
one year after judgment is pronounced.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an action for damages
against a defendant based upon the defendant's commission of a felony
offense for which the defendant has been convicted may be commenced
within 10 years of the date on which the defendant is discharged from
parole if the conviction was for any offense specified in paragraph
(1), except voluntary manslaughter, (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7),
(9), (16), (17), (20), (22), (25), (34), or (35) of subdivision (c)
of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code.
(2) No civil action may be commenced pursuant to paragraph (1) if
any of the following applies:
(A) The defendant has received either a certificate of
rehabilitation as provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code or a pardon as
provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4800) or Chapter 3
(commencing with Section 4850) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal
Code.
(B) Following a conviction for murder or attempted murder, the
defendant has been paroled based in whole or in part upon evidence
presented to the Board of Prison Terms that the defendant committed
the crime because he or she was the victim of battered women'
s syndrome intimate partner battering .
(C) The defendant was convicted of murder or attempted murder in
the second degree in a trial at which substantial evidence was
presented that the person committed the crime because he or she was a
victim of battered women's syndrome intimate
partner battering .
(c) If the sentence or judgment is stayed, the time for the
commencement of the action shall be tolled until the stay is lifted.
For purposes of this section, a judgment is not stayed if the
judgment is appealed or the defendant is placed on probation.
(d) (1) Subdivision (b) shall apply to any action commenced
before, on, or after the effective date of this section, including
any action otherwise barred by a limitation of time in effect prior
to the effective date of this section, thereby reviving those causes
of action that had lapsed or expired under the law in effect prior to
the effective date of this section.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:
(A) Any claim that has been litigated to finality on the merits in
any court of competent jurisdiction prior to January 1, 2003. For
purposes of this section, termination of a prior action on the basis
of the statute of limitations does not constitute a claim that has
been litigated to finality on the merits.
(B) Any written, compromised settlement agreement that has been
entered into between a plaintiff and a defendant if the plaintiff was
represented by an attorney who was admitted to practice law in this
state at the time of the settlement, and the plaintiff signed the
agreement.
(e) Any restitution paid by the defendant to the victim shall be
credited against any judgment, award, or settlement obtained pursuant
to this section. Any judgment, award, or settlement obtained
pursuant to an action under this section shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 13966.01 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2. Section 3030 of the Family Code
is amended to read:
3030.
(a) No person shall be granted physical or legal custody of, or
unsupervised visitation with, a child if the person is required to be
registered as a sex offender under Section 290 of the Penal Code
where the victim was a minor, or if the person has been convicted
under Section 273a, 273d, or 647.6 of the Penal Code, unless the
court finds that there is no significant risk to the child and states
its reasons in writing or on the record.
(b) No person shall be granted custody of, or visitation with, a
child if the person has been convicted under Section 261 of the Penal
Code and the child was conceived as a result of that violation.
(c) No person shall be granted custody of, or unsupervised
visitation with, a child if the person has been convicted of murder
in the first degree, as defined in Section 189 of the Penal Code, and
the victim of the murder was the other parent of the child who is
the subject of the order, unless the court finds that there is no
risk to the child's health, safety, and welfare, and states the
reasons for its finding in writing or on the record. In making its
finding, the court may consider, among other things, the following:
(1) The wishes of the child, if the child is of sufficient age and
capacity to reason so as to form an intelligent preference.
(2) Credible evidence that the convicted parent was a victim of
abuse, as defined in Section 6203, committed by the deceased parent.
That evidence may include, but is not limited to, written reports by
law enforcement agencies, child protective services or other social
welfare agencies, courts, medical facilities, or other public
agencies or private nonprofit organizations providing services to
victims of domestic abuse.
(3) Testimony of an expert witness, qualified under Section 1107
of the Evidence Code, that the convicted parent suffers from
the effects of battered women's syndrome experiences
intimate partner battering .
Unless and until a custody or visitation order is issued pursuant
to this subdivision, no person shall permit or cause the child to
visit or remain in the custody of the convicted parent without the
consent of the child's custodian or legal guardian.
(d) The court may order child support that is to be paid by a
person subject to subdivision (a), (b), or (c) to be paid through the
local child support agency, as authorized by Section 4573 of the
Family Code and Division 17 (commencing with Section 17000) of this
code.
(e) The court shall not disclose, or cause to be disclosed, the
custodial parent's place of residence, place of employment, or the
child's school, unless the court finds that the disclosure would be
in the best interest of the child.
SEC. 2.5. Section 3030 of the Family
Code is amended to read:
3030.
(a) (1) No person shall be granted physical
or legal custody of, or unsupervised visitation with, a child if the
person is required to be registered as a sex offender under Section
290 of the Penal Code where the victim was a minor, or if the person
has been convicted under Section 273a, 273d, or 647.6 of the Penal
Code, unless the court finds that there is no significant risk to the
child and states its reasons in writing or on the record.
(2) No person shall be granted physical or legal custody of, or
unsupervised visitation with, a child if anyone residing in the
person's household is required, as a result of a felony conviction in
which the victim was a minor, to register as a sex offender under
Section 290 of the Penal Code, unless the court finds there is no
significant risk to the child and states its reasons in writing or on
the record.
(3) The fact that a child is permitted unsupervised contact with a
person who is required, as a result of a felony conviction in which
the victim was a minor, to be registered as a sex offender under
Section 290 of the Penal Code, shall be prima facie evidence that the
child is at significant risk. When making a determination regarding
significant risk to the child, the prima facie evidence shall
constitute a presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence.
However, this presumption shall not apply if there are factors
mitigating against its application, including whether the party
seeking custody or visitation is also required, as the result of a
felony conviction in which the victim was a minor, to register as a
sex offender under Section 290 of the Penal Code.
(b) No person shall be granted custody of, or visitation with, a
child if the person has been convicted under Section 261 of the Penal
Code and the child was conceived as a result of that violation.
(c) No person shall be granted custody of, or unsupervised
visitation with, a child if the person has been convicted of murder
in the first degree, as defined in Section 189 of the Penal Code, and
the victim of the murder was the other parent of the child who is
the subject of the order, unless the court finds that there is no
risk to the child's health, safety, and welfare, and states the
reasons for its finding in writing or on the record. In making its
finding, the court may consider, among other things, the following:
(1) The wishes of the child, if the child is of sufficient age and
capacity to reason so as to form an intelligent preference.
(2) Credible evidence that the convicted parent was a victim of
abuse, as defined in Section 6203, committed by the deceased parent.
That evidence may include, but is not limited to, written reports by
law enforcement agencies, child protective services or other social
welfare agencies, courts, medical facilities, or other public
agencies or private nonprofit organizations providing services to
victims of domestic abuse.
(3) Testimony of an expert witness, qualified under Section 1107
of the Evidence Code, that the convicted parent suffers from
the effects of battered women's syndrome experiences
intimate partner battering .
Unless and until a custody or visitation order is issued pursuant
to this subdivision, no person shall permit or cause the child to
visit or remain in the custody of the convicted parent without the
consent of the child's custodian or legal guardian.
(d) The court may order child support that is to be paid by a
person subject to subdivision (a), (b), or (c) to be paid through the
local child support agency, as authorized by Section 4573 of the
Family Code and Division 17 (commencing with Section 17000) of this
code.
(e) The court shall not disclose, or cause to be disclosed, the
custodial parent's place of residence, place of employment, or the
child's school, unless the court finds that the disclosure would be
in the best interest of the child.
SECTION 1.
SEC. 3. Section 4801 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
4801.
(a) The Board of Prison Terms may report to the Governor, from
time to time, the names of any and all persons imprisoned in any
state prison who, in its judgment, ought to have a commutation of
sentence or be pardoned and set at liberty on account of good
conduct, or unusual term of sentence, or any other cause, including
evidence of intimate partner battering and its effects. For purposes
of this section, "intimate partner battering and its effects" may
include evidence of the nature and effects of physical, emotional, or
mental abuse upon the beliefs, perceptions, or behavior of victims
of domestic violence where it appears the criminal behavior was the
result of that victimization.
(b) The Board of Prison Terms, in reviewing a prisoner's
suitability for parole pursuant to Section 3041.5, shall consider any
information or evidence that, at the time of the commission of the
crime, the prisoner had experienced intimate partner battering, but
was convicted of the offense prior to the enactment of Section 1107
of the Evidence Code by Chapter 812 of the Statutes of 1991. The
board shall state on the record the information or evidence that it
considered pursuant to this subdivision, and the reasons for the
parole decision. The board shall annually report to the Legislature
and the Governor on the cases the board considered pursuant to this
subdivision during the previous year, including the board's decision
and the findings of its investigations of these cases.
SEC. 2.
SEC. 4. Section 5075.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
5075.5.
All commissioners and deputy commissioners who conduct hearings
for the purpose of considering the parole suitability of prisoners or
the setting of a parole release date for prisoners, shall receive
initial training on domestic violence cases and intimate partner
battering and its effects.
SEC. 3.
SEC. 5. Section 13823.93 of the Penal Code is amended to
read:
13823.93.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Medical personnel" includes physicians, nurse practitioners,
physician assistants, nurses, and other health care providers, as
appropriate.
(2) To "perform a medical evidentiary examination" means to
evaluate, collect, preserve, and document evidence, interpret
findings, and document examination results.
(b) To ensure the delivery of standardized curriculum, essential
for consistent examination procedures throughout the state, one
hospital-based training center shall be established through a
competitive bidding process, to train medical personnel on how to
perform medical evidentiary examinations for victims of child abuse
or neglect, sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse, and abuse
or assault perpetrated against persons with disabilities. The center
also shall provide training for investigative and court personnel
involved in dependency and criminal proceedings, on how to interpret
the findings of medical evidentiary examinations.
The training provided by the training center shall be made
available to medical personnel, law enforcement, and the courts
throughout the state.
(c) The training center shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Recognized expertise and experience in providing medical
evidentiary examinations for victims of child abuse or neglect,
sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse, and abuse or assault
perpetrated against persons with disabilities.
(2) Recognized expertise and experience implementing the protocol
established pursuant to Section 13823.5.
(3) History of providing training, including, but not limited to,
the clinical supervision of trainees and the evaluation of clinical
competency.
(4) Recognized expertise and experience in the use of advanced
medical technology and training in the evaluation of victims of child
abuse or neglect, sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse,
and abuse or assault perpetrated against persons with disabilities.
(5) Significant history in working with professionals in the field
of criminalistics.
(6) Established relationships with local crime laboratories,
clinical laboratories, law enforcement agencies, district attorneys'
offices, child protective services, victim advocacy programs, and
federal investigative agencies.
(7) The capacity for developing a telecommunication network
between primary, secondary, and tertiary medical providers.
(8) History of leadership in working collaboratively with medical
forensic experts, criminal justice experts, investigative social
worker experts, state criminal justice, social services, health and
mental health agencies, and statewide professional associations
representing the various disciplines, especially those specified in
paragraph (6) of subdivision (d).
(9) History of leadership in working collaboratively with state
and local victim advocacy organizations, especially those addressing
sexual assault and domestic violence.
(10) History and experience in the development and delivery of
standardized curriculum for forensic medical experts, criminal
justice professionals, and investigative social workers.
(11) History of research, particularly involving databases, in the
area of child physical and sexual abuse, sexual assault, elder
abuse, or domestic violence.
(d) The training center shall do all of the following:
(1) Develop and implement a standardized training program for
medical personnel that has been reviewed and approved by a
multidisciplinary peer review committee.
(2) Develop a telecommunication system network between the
training center and other areas of the state, including rural and
mid-sized counties. This service shall provide case consultation to
medical personnel, law enforcement, and the courts and provide
continuing medical education.
(3) Provide ongoing basic, advanced, and specialized training
programs.
(4) Develop guidelines for the reporting and management of child
physical abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and elder abuse.
(5) Develop guidelines for evaluating the results of training for
the medical personnel performing examinations.
(6) Provide standardized training for law enforcement officers,
district attorneys, public defenders, investigative social workers,
and judges on medical evidentiary examination procedures and the
interpretation of findings. This training shall be developed and
implemented in collaboration with the Peace Officer Standards and
Training Program, the California District Attorney's Association, the
California Peace Officers Association, the California Police Chiefs
Association, the California State Sheriffs Association, the
California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors, the California
Sexual Assault Investigators Association, the California Alliance
Against Domestic Violence, the Statewide California Coalition for
Battered Women, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, child victim
advocacy organizations, the California Welfare Directors Association,
the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Department of
Justice, the agency or agencies designated by the Director of Finance
pursuant to Section 13820, the Child Welfare Training Program, and
the University of California extension programs.
(7) Promote an interdisciplinary approach in the assessment and
management of child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, elder abuse,
domestic violence, and abuse or assault against persons with
disabilities.
(8) Provide training in the dynamics of victimization, including,
but not limited to, rape trauma syndrome, intimate partner battering
and its effects, the effects of child abuse and neglect, and the
various aspects of elder abuse. This training shall be provided by
individuals who are recognized as experts within their respective
disciplines.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to change the scope
of practice for any health care provider, as defined in other
provisions of law.
SEC. 6.
Section 2.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 3030
of the Family Code proposed by both this bill and SB 594. It shall
only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become
effective on or before January 1, 2006, (2) each bill amends Section
3030 of the Family Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after SB 594,
in which case Section 2 of this bill shall not become operative.
SEC. 4. Section 3030 of the Family Code is amended to read:
3030.
(a) No person shall be granted physical or legal custody of, or
unsupervised visitation with, a child if the person is required to be
registered as a sex offender under Section 290 of the Penal Code
where the victim was a minor, or if the person has been convicted
under Section 273a, 273d, or 647.6 of the Penal Code, unless the
court finds that there is no significant risk to the child and states
its reasons in writing or on the record.
(b) No person shall be granted custody of, or visitation with, a
child if the person has been convicted under Section 261 of the Penal
Code and the child was conceived as a result of that violation.
(c) No person shall be granted custody of, or unsupervised
visitation with, a child if the person has been convicted of murder
in the first degree, as defined in Section 189 of the Penal Code, and
the victim of the murder was the other parent of the child who is
the subject of the order, unless the court finds that there is no
risk to the child's health, safety, and welfare, and states the
reasons for its finding in writing or on the record. In making its
finding, the court may consider, among other things, the following:
(1) The wishes of the child, if the child is of sufficient age and
capacity to reason so as to form an intelligent preference.
(2) Credible evidence that the convicted parent was a victim of
abuse, as defined in Section 6203, committed by the deceased parent.
That evidence may include, but is not limited to, written reports by
law enforcement agencies, child protective services or other social
welfare agencies, courts, medical facilities, or other public
agencies or private nonprofit organizations providing services to
victims of domestic abuse.
(3) Testimony of an expert witness, qualified under Section 1107
of the Evidence Code, that the convicted parent experiences intimate
partner battering.
Unless and until a custody or visitation order is issued pursuant
to this subdivision, no person shall permit or cause the child to
visit or remain in the custody of the convicted parent without the
consent of the child's custodian or legal guardian.
(d) The court may order child support that is to be paid by a
person subject to subdivision (a), (b), or (c) to be paid through the
local child support agency, as authorized by Section 4573 of the
Family Code and Division 17 (commencing with Section 17000) of this
code.
(e) The court shall not disclose, or cause to be disclosed, the
custodial parent's place of residence, place of employment, or the
child's school, unless the court finds that the disclosure would be
in the best interest of the child.
SEC. 5. Section 340.3 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to
read:
340.3.
(a) Unless a longer period is prescribed for a specific action, in
any action for damages against a defendant based upon the defendant'
s commission of a felony offense for which the defendant has been
convicted, the time for commencement of the action shall be within
one year after judgment is pronounced.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an action for damages
against a defendant based upon the defendant's commission of a felony
offense for which the defendant has been convicted may be commenced
within 10 years of the date on which the defendant is discharged from
parole if the conviction was for any offense specified in paragraph
(1), except voluntary manslaughter, (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7),
(9), (16), (17), (20), (22), (25), (34), or (35) of subdivision (c)
of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code.
(2) No civil action may be commenced pursuant to paragraph (1) if
any of the following applies:
(A) The defendant has received either a certificate of
rehabilitation as provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code or a pardon as
provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4800) or Chapter 3
(commencing with Section 4850) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal
Code.
(B) Following a conviction for murder or attempted murder, the
defendant has been paroled based in whole or in part upon evidence
presented to the Board of Prison Terms that the defendant committed
the crime because he or she was the victim of intimate partner
battering.
(C) The defendant was convicted of murder or attempted murder in
the second degree in a trial at which substantial evidence was
presented that the person committed the crime because he or she was a
victim of intimate partner battering.
(c) If the sentence or judgment is stayed, the time for the
commencement of the action shall be tolled until the stay is lifted.
For purposes of this section, a judgment is not stayed if the
judgment is appealed or the defendant is placed on probation.
(d) (1) Subdivision (b) shall apply to any action commenced
before, on, or after the effective date of this section, including
any action otherwise barred by a limitation of time in effect prior
to the effective date of this section, thereby reviving those causes
of action that had lapsed or expired under the law in effect prior to
the effective date of this section.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:
(A) Any claim that has been litigated to finality on the merits in
any court of competent jurisdiction prior to January 1, 2003. For
purposes of this section, termination of a prior action on the basis
of the statute of limitations does not constitute a claim that has
been litigated to finality on the merits.
(B) Any written, compromised settlement agreement that has been
entered into between a plaintiff and a defendant if the plaintiff was
represented by an attorney who was admitted to practice law in this
state at the time of the settlement, and the plaintiff signed the
agreement.
(e) Any restitution paid by the defendant to the victim shall be
credited against any judgment, award, or settlement obtained pursuant
to this section. Any judgment, award, or settlement obtained
pursuant to an action under this section shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 13966.01 of the Government Code.