BILL NUMBER: AB 784	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Garcia

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2005

   An act relating to SAFE teams, and making an appropriation
therefor.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 784, as introduced, Garcia.   SAFE teams.
   Existing law authorizes the establishment of county and regional
Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) teams to reduce violent
sexual assault offenses.
   This bill would appropriate $15,000,000 from the General Fund to
the Controller for distribution to county sheriffs and city police
chiefs for the implementation of county and regional SAFE team
programs, as specified. The bill would require entities accepting the
funds to report to the Department of Finance regarding the program,
as specified, and failing that, to return the funds to the state.
   The bill would also set forth the findings and declarations of the
Legislature in this regard.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares the
following:(a) Habitual sexual assault offenders pose a significant
risk to the welfare and safety of the residents of California.
   (b) Predatory sex offenders frequently travel to areas outside of
the jurisdictions in which they reside to evade surveillance and
possible arrest by local law enforcement agencies for probation or
parole violations.
   (c) Recent data shows that approximately 44 percent of sexual
predators are not registering as required under Megan's Law, and law
enforcement officials are unaware of their current location.(d) The
Legislature has encouraged the formation of regional law enforcement
task forces consisting of officers and agents from several law
enforcement agencies organized for the explicit purpose of reducing
violent sexual assaults through proactive surveillance and arrests of
habitual sexual offenders.
   (e) The funding of the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE)
Teams is critical to tracking sexually violent predators and
protecting the welfare and safety of Californians.
  SEC. 2.  (a) The sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) is
hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Controller for
distribution to county sheriffs for the implementation of county and
regional SAFE team programs pursuant to Chapter 9.7 (commencing with
Section 13887) of Title 6 of Part 4 of the Penal Code.(b) No county
may use funds provided pursuant to this act to supplant any other
sources of funding.
   (c) The funds appropriated by this act shall be allocated by the
Controller for the implementation of county and regional SAFE team
programs pursuant to Chapter 9.7 (commencing with Section 13887) of
Title 6 of Part 4 of the Penal Code.
   (d) The funds shall be allocated to county sheriffs and city
police chiefs in accordance with the proportionate share of sex
offender registrants residing within a SAFE Team jurisdiction, as
determined by the Department of Justice.
   (e) By accepting the funds provided by this act, local entities
agree to report in writing to the Department of Finance on or before
August 15, 2006. The Department of Finance shall make the report
available to the Legislature. The report shall include, but not be
limited to, the data measuring the objectives identified in Section
13887.3 of the Penal Code, and the signature of the county sheriff,
city police chief, special district administrator, or their
designees.
   (f) Local entities that receive funds pursuant to this act and
that either do not agree to the reporting requirements or do not
report within the specified time shall return the grant money
provided by the Controller within 30 days after the due date of the
report. Any returned funds shall revert to the General Fund.