BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 557 (Kehoe)
Hearing Date: 05/26/2011 Amended: 05/17/2011
AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED
Consultant: Jolie Onodera Policy Vote: Judiciary 5-0
Public Safety 6-0
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 557 would authorize the cities of San Diego and
Anaheim, and the counties of Alameda and Sonoma, until January
1, 2014, to establish family justice centers (FJCs) to assist
victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, human
trafficking, and other victims of abuse and crime. This bill
would require each FJC to maintain an informed consent policy in
compliance with all state and federal laws protecting the
confidentiality of the information of victims seeking services.
This bill would require the Office of Privacy Protection (OPP),
in conjunction with the four pilot centers and relevant
stakeholders, to develop best practices to ensure the privacy of
all FJC clients and shall submit a report to the Legislature no
later than January 1, 2013.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Establishment of FJCs Unknown; potentially major Local
local costs for operation and services
Report to Legislature $17 to OPP in advisory role General
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STAFF COMMENTS:
This bill authorizes the City of San Diego, the City of Anaheim,
the County of Alameda, and the County of Sonoma to create a
two-year pilot project for the establishment of a FJC. This bill
defines the FJC model in the law and expands the reach for whom
services will be provided to include, not only victims of
domestic violence, but also victims of officer-involved domestic
violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, stalking, cyber-stalking,
SB 557 (Kehoe)
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cyber-bullying, and human trafficking. This bill also allows for
the FJCs to be staffed by, among others, law enforcement,
medical, social service, and child welfare personnel.
This bill requires each FJC to develop policies and procedures
to enhance the safety of the victims and professionals at the
FJC and requires each family justice center to maintain an
informed client consent policy and shall be in compliance with
all state and federal laws protecting the confidentiality of the
types of information and documents that may be in a victim's
file, including, but not limited to, medical and legal records.
Should the specified cities and counties opt to establish a FJC,
there will be unknown, but major local costs for operation and
the provision of services to FJC clients. Costs would be
dependent on the number of clients, FJC procedures, staffing,
and the availability and cost of local treatment and service
providers.
This bill requires the OPP in conjunction with the four pilot
centers, the National Family Justice Center Alliance, and
relevant stakeholders shall develop best practices to ensure the
privacy of all family justice center clients and shall submit a
report to the assembly committee on Judiciary and to the Senate
Committee on Judiciary, no later than January 1, 2013, with
recommendations. The OPP has indicated a cost of $62,000 as the
lead agency to develop best practice privacy recommendations and
coordination of the report to the Legislature.
To reduce the costs of the bill, staff recommends an amendment
to have the four pilot centers reduce the OPP to an advisory
role over the development of best practices. The OPP has
indicated reducing their involvement to oversight and review of
the report would result in costs of approximately $17,000.
Staff notes as part of the Administration's proposal to reduce
state operations by eliminations and efficiencies, the May
Revision proposes to eliminate the OPP within the State and
Consumer Services Agency.