BILL ANALYSIS
AB 845
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Date of Hearing: April 29, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 845 (Bass) - As Introduced: February 26, 2009
Policy Committee: Public
SafetyVote: 7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the CA Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation's (CDCR) Reentry Advisory Committee (RAC) to
apply for federal funds, develop a strategic inmate reentry
recidivism plan, submit specified reports to the Legislature,
and extends the sunset on the RAC from January 2011 to January
2014. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the RAC to "immediately" apply for federal funding
through the Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety
Through Recidivism Prevention (Act).
2)Specifies, as required by the Act, that the RAC shall develop
a comprehensive strategic inmate reentry plan, with annual and
five-year performance goals, aimed at reducing the recidivism
rate of inmates served by the Act by 50% over five years.
3)Requires the RAC to submit an annual report to the Legislature
and the U.S. Attorney General regarding performance outcomes,
and requires RAC to report to the Legislature by July 1, 2010
on its findings and efforts regarding recidivism reduction.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Moderate one-time reporting costs to CDCR, in the range of
$100,000 (GF), decreasing to about $50,000 annually until 2014
for the report to the Legislature and the U.S. Attorney
General.
2)Minor costs, in the range of $50,000 annually, to extend the
mission of the RAC from the current 2011 sunset to 2014.
AB 845
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3)Potential federal grant awards that could range up to $750,000
per year, per project, which would require a 100% state match.
Because at least half of the match must be cash, with the
balance in-kind contributions, the state would expend
potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars to qualify for
federal funds. These funds would go to the development of
reentry projects to support recidivism reduction strategies.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. The author's intent is to ensure California does
not miss an opportunity to receive federal funds to help
address the state's persistent prison overcrowding issues and
to encourage CDCR to continue inmate reentry efforts beyond
the 2011 sunset of the RAC.
2)Current law requires CDCR to establish a Reentry Advisory
Committee (RAC) , which includes representatives from local
government, law enforcement, probation, the courts, teachers
and parole officers, and providers in areas including
substance abuse, employment, medical and mental health, and
housing, to advise the CDCR secretary on inmate reentry
strategies and services.
3)The federal Second Chance Act was signed into law by President
Bush in April 2008. It authorizes federal grants to government
agencies and community and faith-based organizations to
provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment,
housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and
other services to help reduce recidivism.
In March 2009, President Obama signed an omnibus
appropriations bill for the remainder of fiscal year 2009 that
provides $25 million for Second Chance Act programs, including
$15 million for state and local reentry demonstration projects
and $10 million for grants to nonprofit organizations for
mentoring and other transitional services.
Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081