BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 503
Author: Furutani (D)
Amended: 8/19/09 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE : 8-1, 6/10/09
AYES: Strickland, Cedillo, Cox, DeSaulnier, Leno,
Maldonado, Negrete McLeod, Wolk
NOES: Aanestad
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alquist, Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 11-0, 7/13/09
AYES: Kehoe, Cox, Corbett, Denham, Leno, Price, Runner,
Walters, Wolk, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hancock, Oropeza
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 80-0, 5/11/09 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Battered womens shelters: grant program
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill extends the sunset date for the
Domestic Violence Advisory Council which advises the
Domestic Violence Program within the Department of Public
Health to January 1, 2015.
Senate Floor Amendments of 8/19/09 add commas in eight
places where needed, and make no other changes to the bill.
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ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. Establishes the Battered Women's Shelter Program, now
known as the Domestic Violence Program, within the
Maternal and Child Health Branch of the Department of
Public Health, now known as the Maternal, Child and
Adolescent Division, to administer grants to battered
women's shelters for comprehensive shelter-based
services. These services include emergency shelter for
victims and their children escaping violent family
situations; transitional housing programs which may
include case management, counseling, job training and
placement, support groups, and classes in parenting and
family budgeting; advocacy and representation to pursue
appropriate legal options; and other support services
for victims and their children.
2. Establishes until January 1, 2010, the Domestic Violence
Advisory Council (Council), which the Department of
Public Health (DPH) is required to consult with in
implementing the Domestic Violence Program.
3. Requires the Council membership to include domestic
violence advocates; battered women service providers;
representatives of law enforcement, women's
organizations, and other groups involved with domestic
violence; and a service provider serving the lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
4. Specifies that the Council is comprised of seven members
appointed by the Governor, three members each appointed
by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules
Committee, and two non-voting ex-officio members who are
members of the Legislature.
This bill extends the sunset date for the Council which
advises the Domestic Violence Program within DPH to January
1, 2015.
This bill requires DPH to consult with the California
Emergency Management Agency to consider the consolidation
of their respective domestic violence programs and to
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report the conclusions to the Legislature by June 30, 2011.
Background
Domestic violence most often refers to intimate partner
violence. It includes violence between spouses,
individuals in dating relationships, and former partners or
spouses, and can occur inside or outside the home.
Domestic violence often involves a pattern of coercive
behavior that includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional
and psychological abuse. The California Penal Code defines
abuse as "intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting
to cause bodily injury, or placing another person in
reasonable apprehension of imminent, serious bodily injury
to himself, herself or another."
According to the Department of Justice, law enforcement
received 174,649 domestic violence calls in 2007; 119
murders were the result of intimate partner violence, 101
women were killed by their husbands, ex-husbands or
boyfriends, and 18 men were killed by their wives, ex-wives
or girlfriends. As of April 2008, there were 246,444
domestic violence related orders (emergency protective
orders, temporary restraining orders, orders after hearing,
other domestic violence orders, or criminal protective
orders) on file with the department.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11
2011-12 Fund
Sunset extension unknown, but likely under $50
ongoing General
Report consolidation unknown, but likely minor and
absorbable General
conclusions
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SUPPORT : (Verified 8/19/09)
Alternatives to Domestic Violence
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees, AFL-CIO
Asian Women's Shelter
Break the Cycle
Community Service Program Victim Assistance Programs
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, Fifth District, Long Beach
Eastman Hope Healthy Start
House of Ruth
Human Options
Legal Aid Society of Orange County
Mothers of Lost Children
Peace Over Violence
Rainbow Services
South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency
Sojourn Services for Battered Women and Their Children
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Supporters state that domestic
violence statistics highlight the continuing need for
emergency shelters, housing, legal advocacy, and support
services for victims of domestic violence. Supporters
further state that this bill extends important provisions
of the Battered Women Protection Act which requires the
Domestic Violence Program to consult with the Council
regarding the distribution of grants. Supporters contend
that members of the Council are leaders and experts in the
domestic violence field, and that by extending the Council,
this bill will ensure strong leadership in providing
funding to these programs.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block, Blumenfield,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,
Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon,
DeVore, Duvall, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher,
Fong, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani,
Garrick, Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi,
Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight,
Krekorian, Lieu, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza,
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Miller, Monning, Nava, Nestande, Niello, Nielsen, John A.
Perez, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino, Price, Ruskin, Salas,
Saldana, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Audra
Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran,
Villines, Yamada, Bass
CTW:mw 8/20/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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