BILL NUMBER: AB 2326 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bass
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
An act to amend Section 5056.5 of the Penal Code, relating to the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Reentry Advisory
Committee.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2326, as introduced, Bass. Reentry Advisory Committee.
Existing law requires the Secretary of Corrections to establish,
until January 1, 2011, 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.
This bill would expand the membership of the committee by 3
members, as specified. The bill would require additional reports by
the committee, and would require the committee to develop a
comprehensive resource guide for community-based organizations,
faith-based organizations, service providers, law enforcement
agencies, and industry and governmental entities, as specified. The
bill would require the committee to apply for specified federal
grants, and to develop a comprehensive strategic reentry plan
containing annual and 5-year performance goals, as specified, to
include the goal of reducing the rate of recidivism by 50% over a
5-year period for offenders released from prison, jail, or a juvenile
facility who are served with federal grant funds as measured by
specified outcomes. The bill would require the committee to submit an
annual report to the Legislature and the United States Attorney
General detailing the progress towards achieving strategic
performance outcomes, as specified. The bill would extend the
operation of the committee until January 1, 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 State Department of Health
Care 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.
(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 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 not
less frequently than each quarter and shall also meet upon 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 and members of the committee
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. The committee
shall consider and advise the secretary on the following
issues 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 by the
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 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 of reentry
programs.
(7) Educating the public 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.
(e) The committee shall immediately seek and apply for grant
funding available through the federal Second Chance Act of 2007:
Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention (Public Law 110-199).
(f) As required by the federal Second Chance Act of 2007:
Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention, the 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.
(g) The 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.
(h) The 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, offender accountability,
and community and victim participation.
(d)
(i) This section shall remain in effect only until
January 1, 2011 2016 , and as of that
date is repealed, unless a later statute, that is enacted before
January 1, 2011 2016 , deletes or
extends that date.