BILL ANALYSIS
SB 662
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 662 (Yee)
As Amended June 21, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :Vote not relevant
JUDICIARY 7-3
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|Ayes:|Feuer, Brownley, Evans, | | |
| |Jones, Monning, Nava, | | |
| |Huffman | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Tran, Hagman, Knight | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Permits a county board of supervisors to increase the
marriage license fees used to fund domestic violence shelters by
$10 and clarifies when such shelters may receive these funds.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes a county board of supervisors to increase the
marriage license fee used to fund domestic violence shelters
by $10, from $23 to $33.
2)Requires that, to be funded with the special domestic violence
shelter-based program fees, domestic violence shelter-based
programs must be existing and not just proposed.
3)Allows a county to use its domestic violence shelter-based
program funds to fund a shelter outside of the county only if
both of the following conditions are satisfied: a) the county
already funds all domestic violence shelter-based programs
within the county borders that meet specified requirements;
and b) the program to be funded outside of the county provides
services to residents of the funding county.
4)Requires that domestic violence shelter-based programs special
funds be disbursed through a request for qualification (RFQ)
process that involves a determination of whether the domestic
violence shelter-based program in question meets specified
requirements. Provides that if the program meets the
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specified requirements, it has successfully completed the RFQ
process.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes a $23 fee that must be collected at the time of
issuance of a marriage license to be used, by way of a special
fund, to fund domestic violence shelter-based programs.
2)Requires domestic violence shelter-based programs that receive
the special funds in 1) above to provide specified services,
including: a) 24 hour/7 day a week shelter services; b)
temporary housing and food facilities; c) a drop-in center to
assist victims of domestic violence; and, d) arrangements for
school-age children to continue their education during their
stay at the shelter. Requires, to the extent possible, and in
conjunction with already existing community services, domestic
violence shelter-based programs to provide victims of domestic
violence with medical care, legal assistance, psychological
support and counseling, and information regarding other
available social services.
3)Requires that all proposed and existing domestic violence
shelter-based programs that meet the requirements in 2) above
must receive the marriage license fees special funding, upon
approval by the local board of supervisors.
4)Allows geographically adjacent counties to combine domestic
violence shelter-based resources in order to provide services
to the clients of each of those counties.
5)Requires that the domestic violence shelter-based program
special funds be disbursed to approved domestic violence
shelter-based programs on a yearly or more frequent basis
through an RFQ process.
6)Requires the Maternal and Child Health Branch of the State
Department of Public Health to administer a comprehensive
shelter-based services grant program to domestic violence
shelters, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : This bill seeks to increase funding available to
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domestic violence shelters and makes minor changes in how these
groups are to be funded. Writes the author:
Each year, many victims of domestic violence find
themselves in crisis situations with no place to go.
Domestic violence shelters are often the only safe
haven for victims fleeing violence, and shelter
services are known to save lives. Shelters serve a
critical need for victims in crisis. . . .
California has a network of over 100 domestic violence
shelter-based programs. These programs provide
shelter in confidential locations 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, and provide services from staff
with expertise and specific domestic violence
training. These programs provide comprehensive
services to thousands of victims including counseling
and support groups, prevention services, legal
support, crisis hot-lines and community outreach. . .
.
For more than thirty years, marriage license fees have
supported these vital domestic violence shelters.
However, with the elimination of state funding in
2009, reductions in local and private donations, and a
massive increase in the demand for services, shelters
are operating on shoestring budgets and are forced to
reduce core services and eliminate non-funded services
to survivors of violence and their children. In some
cases they have been forced to close altogether.
Far too many women and children who need shelter are
turned away due to lack of space, and return home to
life-threatening situations. Over 44,000 adult victims
were turned away from state-funded domestic violence
shelters during the last six years because shelters
were full.
SB 662 allows counties to increase the existing
marriage license fee that goes to domestic violence
shelters by $10, from $23 to $33. The current $23
level has not been increased since 1993, so has not
kept up with inflation and cost of living increases.
During these challenging budget times, this fee has
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become a vital lifeline to these needed programs.
In order to qualify for the marriage license special fees, a
domestic violence shelter must provide critical services to
victims and their children, including: a) 24 hour/7 day a week
shelter services; b) a 24-hour a day hotline for crisis calls;
c) temporary housing and food facilities; d) psychological
support and peer counseling; e) a drop-in center to assist
victims; and, f) arrangements for school-age children to
continue their education during their stay at the domestic
violence shelter-based program. In addition, to the extent
possible, and in conjunction with already existing community
services, the shelter must provide victims with medical care,
legal assistance, psychological support and counseling, and
information regarding other available social services. These
important services require considerable resources.
Today the marriage license fee includes a statewide $23 fee to
help fund domestic violence shelter-based programs. That fee
began in 1980 and was last increased by $6 in 1993 (SB 3
(Presley), Chapter 420, Statutes of 1993). According to
information from the author and the bill's supporters, the
current fees are not sufficient to meet the needs of victims of
domestic violence and their families, with shelters turning away
44,000 adult victims in the last six years because the shelters
were full. While not requiring that the fee be increased, this
bill allows county boards of supervisors to increase the fee to
$33 in order to better meet the needs of victims of domestic
violence. This $10 optional fee increase almost keeps pace with
inflation.
Analysis Prepared by : Leora Gershenzon / JUD. / (916) 319-2334
FN: 0004930