BILL ANALYSIS
AB 784
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Date of Hearing: April 6, 2005
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Judy Chu, Chair
AB 784 (Garcia) - As Introduced: February 18, 2005
Policy Committee: Public
SafetyVote: 6-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill appropriates $15 million from the GF to the State
Controller for distribution to local law enforcement to support
local Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Team programs-as
authorized under current law-to reduce violent sexual assault
offenses through surveillance and arrest of habitual sex
offenders and strict enforcement of sex offender registration
requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT
Appropriates $15 million from the GF for local SAFE programs.
Funds would be allocated to sheriffs and police chiefs based on
the number of registered sex offenders residing within their
jurisdictions.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author contends the state should provide more
support for local law enforcement efforts to track and control
registered sex offenders.
2)The Citizens' Option for Public Safety (COPS) program provides
$100 million annually to local law enforcement entities for
discretionary expenditure. Funds are distributed by a
population formula, though no police department or sheriff's
department receives less than $100,000. The COPS program was
created by the Legislature in 1996 to provide local law
enforcement a limited pot of discretionary revenue.
3)Current law authorizes counties to establish and implement
AB 784
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SAFE Team programs to:
a) Monitor, arrest, and assist in the prosecution of
habitual sex offenders who violate terms and conditions of
probation or parole, fail to comply with sex offender
registration requirements, or commit new sexual assault
offenses.
b) Collect data to determine if this program reduces sexual
assaults.
c) Develop procedures for operating multi-jurisdictional
task forces.
4)Prior Legislation .
a) AB 1441 (Garcia, 2004) was identical to this bill and
was held on this committee's Suspense File.
b) AB 1858 (Hollingsworth), Statutes of 2002, authorized
counties to establish and implement SAFE team programs.
c) SB 499 (Figueroa, 1999), which initially authorized
counties to establish and operate SAFE teams and authorized
counties to impose a $1 annual vehicle registration fee to
fund the program, was later amended to address an unrelated
subject.
d) AB 371 (Figueroa, 1997), which appropriated $5.5 million
from the GF to the Controller to implement SAFE teams in
Santa Clara and L.A. counties, was held on this committee's
Suspense File.
Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081