BILL NUMBER: AB 845 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 25, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bass
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
An act to amend Section 5056.5 of the Penal Code, relating to
corrections.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 845, as amended, Bass. Corrections: Reentry Advisory Committee.
Existing law requires the Secretary of the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a Reentry Advisory
Committee, comprised as specified, to advise the secretary on matters
related to the successful planning, implementation, and outcomes of
all reentry programs and services in the department, with the goal of
reducing recidivism. Existing law repeals these provisions on
January 1, 2011.
This bill would impose additional requirements on the committee,
including that the committee seek and apply for federal funds,
develop a comprehensive strategic reentry plan seeking to reduce the
recidivism rate, develop a comprehensive resource guide for
entities working to address reentry issues, and submit
a report to the Legislature issue reports , as
specified. The bill would expand the membership of the
committee. The bill would extend the repeal date on these
provisions until January 1, 2014 2016 .
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 5056.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
5056.5. (a) On or before July 1, 2007, the Secretary of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall establish a
Reentry Advisory Committee. The committee shall report to the
secretary, who shall serve as chair of the committee. The committee
shall include representation from stakeholders in the successful
administration of reentry programming and shall be comprised of the
following members, appointed by the secretary:
(1) A representative of the California League of Cities.
(2) A representative of the California State Association of
Counties.
(3) A representative of the California State Sheriffs'
Association.
(4) A representative of the California Police Chiefs' Association.
(5) A representative of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation Adult Parole Operations.
(6) A representative of the Department of Mental Health.
(7) A representative of the Department of Social Services.
(8) A representative of the Department of Health Services.
(9) A representative of the Labor and Workforce Development
Agency.
(10) A representative of the County Alcohol and Drug Program
Administrators Association.
(11) A representative of the California Association of Alcohol and
Drug Program Executives.
(12) An individual with experience in providing housing for
low-income individuals.
(13) A recognized expert in restorative justice programs.
(14) An individual with experience in providing education and
vocational training services.
(15) An independent consultant with expertise in community
corrections and reentry services.
(b) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall meet at least quarterly
at a time and place determined by the secretary. Committee members
shall receive compensation for travel expenses pursuant to existing
regulations, but no other compensation.
(16) A public defender or private defense attorney.
(17) A representative of a community-based organization who is
familiar with the reentry needs of former offenders and who has
experience advocating for former offenders and with providing reentry
services in southern California.
(18) A representative of a faith-based organization who is
familiar with the reentry needs of former offenders and who has
experience advocating for former offenders and providing reentry
services in northern California.
(b) The committee shall meet not less frequently than each quarter
and shall also meet at the call of the secretary. The committee
shall hold its meetings at a time and location that is convenient to
the public. All meetings of the committee shall be open to the
public. Members shall serve without compensation.
(c) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall advise the secretary on
all matters related to the successful statewide planning,
implementation, and outcomes of all reentry programs and services
provided by the department, with the goal of reducing recidivism
of all persons under the jurisdiction of the department and
shall submit a report detailing its findings and efforts to the
Legislature by July 1, 2010. The committee shall consider and advise
the secretary on the following issues: of all persons
under the jurisdiction of the department. The committee shall issue
advisory reports whenever it deems appropriate, but shall,
not less frequently than annually, issue a report to the Governor
and the Legislature. The committee shall make these reports available
to the public. A report of the Reentry Advisory Committee shall, at
a minimum, include recommendations on all of the following:
(1) Encouraging collaboration
Collaborative reentry activities among key stakeholders at the
state and local levels.
(2) Developing a knowledge base of Best
practice models and programs related to what people need to
successfully return to their communities from prison and what
resources communities need to successfully provide for these needs.
(3) Incorporating Incorporation of
reentry outcomes into department organizational missions and work
plans as priorities.
(4) Funding of reentry programs.
(5) Promoting systems of integration and coordination.
(6) Measuring outcomes and evaluating the impact
Measurement and evaluation of the effect
of reentry programs.
(7) Educating the public Public education
about reentry programs and their role in public safety.
(d) The committee shall develop a comprehensive resource guide for
community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, service
providers, law enforcement agencies, and industry and governmental
entities working to address the issues of reentry through programs,
service delivery, or both programs and service delivery. The guide
shall also detail the availability of private, city, county, city and
county, state, and federal resources for former offenders attempting
to successfully reintegrate into society. The guide shall be made
available to the public in order to maximize the potential for
collaboration.
(d)
(e) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall immediately
seek and apply for all federal grant
funding available through the federal Second Chance Act of 2007:
Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention (Public Law 110-199).
(e)
(f) As required by the federal Second Chance
Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention, the
Reentry Advisory Committee shall develop a comprehensive strategic
reentry plan containing annual and five-year performance goals. The
comprehensive reentry plan shall seek to reduce the rate of
recidivism by 50 percent over a five-year period for offenders
released from prison, jail, or a juvenile facility who are served
with funds provided under the federal Second Chance Act of
2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention. The outcome
measures for the plan developed pursuant to this subdivision may
include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(1) Reduction in crime.
(2) Increase in employment and educational opportunities.
(3) Reduction in supervised release violations.
(4) Increase in child support obligation compliance.
(5) Reduction in drug and alcohol abuse.
(6) Increase in participation in substance abuse and mental health
services.
(7) Other outcome measures that correlate positively with the
reentry success rate of offenders who transition out of prisons,
jails, or juvenile facilities.
(f)
(g) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall develop the
comprehensive strategic reentry plan in consultation with community
members and stakeholders, including persons in the fields of public
safety, juvenile and adult corrections, housing, health, education,
substance abuse, child and family services, victim services,
employment, and business, and members of nonprofit organizations
working on reentry policy or providing reentry services.
(g)
(h) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall examine ways
to pool resources and funding streams to promote lower recidivism
rates among returning offenders and to minimize the harmful effects
of offender incarceration on the families and communities of
offenders by collecting data and developing best practices on
offender reentry from demonstration grantees and other organizations.
(h)
(i) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall submit an
annual report to the Legislature and the United States Attorney
General detailing the progress of grantees towards achieving
strategic performance outcomes and describing other activities
conducted by grantees to increase the success rates of the reentry
population, such as programs that foster effective risk management
and treatment programming, offender accountability, and community and
victim participation.
(i)
(j) This section shall remain in effect only until
January 1, 2014 2016 , and as of that
date is repealed, unless a later statute, that is enacted before
January 1, 2014 2016 , deletes or
extends that date.