BILL NUMBER: SB 1240	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hollingsworth

                        FEBRUARY 7, 2006

   An act relating to SAFE teams, making an appropriation therefor,
and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1240, as introduced, Hollingsworth  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 for the
implementation of county and regional SAFE team programs, as
specified.
   The bill would also set forth the findings and declarations of the
Legislature in this regard.
   The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an
urgency statute.
   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.
  SEC. 3.  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:(PU (DF 21, Revised
12/94) PU RN0301132)
   In order to protect the citizens of our state, particularly
children, from sexually violent predators, it is necessary that this
act take effect immediately.