BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 932
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 2, 2007

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mark Leno, Chair

                AB 932 (Jeffries) - As Introduced:  February 22, 2007 

          Policy Committee:                              Public  
          SafetyVote:  6-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               
            
          SUMMARY

           This bill requires the Department of Corrections and  
          Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide inmates assigned to fire  
          suppression efforts at conservation camps with access to weight  
          training equipment. 
           
           FISCAL EFFECT

           One-time GF or Inmate Welfare Fund costs in the range of  
          $170,000, assuming a cost per camp of about $4,000, to outfit  
          each of 42 CDCR/CDF conservation camps with weight training  
          equipment. This assumes no facility modifications are necessary,  
          which could more than double the cost of the equipment. 
           
          COMMENT

          1)Rationale.  The author references the 4,400 inmates in 42  
            CDCR/CDF conservation camps who respond to all types of  
            emergencies, including wildfires, floods, and search and  
            rescue. These fire crews perform several million hours of  
            emergency response each year, saving the state millions of  
            dollars. According to the author, "Obviously, the work  
            performed by these crews is often physically taxing and  
            requires a substantially high level of physical fitness.  
            However, under current law, these inmates are not allowed  
            access to weight training equipment that other firefighters  
            use to help attain the appropriate level of physical fitness  
            required. 

            "AB 932 will help ensure that they reach appropriate levels of  
            physical fitness required by those working in fire suppression  








                                                                  AB 932
                                                                  Page  2

            efforts." 
           
          2)Current law/practice  . In 1995, inmate weight training was  
            significantly reduced as a result of SBX1 22 (Peace) Statutes  
            of 1994, which essentially ended the common site of inmates  
            lifting free weights on prison yards. SB 22 stated legislative  
            intent that the purpose of exercise in prison is for the  
            general health and welfare of inmates and not for increasing  
            body mass and strength. As a result, except in limited  
            situations, weight training has all but disappeared from state  
            prisons.

            SB 22 also specified, however, that in some cases it may be  
            beneficial to provide access to weights for therapeutic or  
            rehabilitative reasons, or for certain vocational activities  
            such as firefighting. This bill seeks to address the specific  
            situation of fire camp training.
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081