BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1610
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 9, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    AB 1610 (Bonta) - As Amended:  March 20, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Public  
          SafetyVote:  7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill provides, if a defendant has been charged with human  
          trafficking, as specified, the people or the defendant may have  
          a witness examined conditionally if (a) there is evidence the  
          life of the witness is in jeopardy; (b) there is evidence the  
          witness has been threatened or dissuaded from testifying at  
          trial; or (c) the court finds reasonable basis to believe the  
          witness will not attend the trial.  
           
           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Unknown, likely minor, trial court costs to the extent  
          conditional examinations require additional court time. (There  
          were 41 commitments to state prison between 2009-2012.)   

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  . The author contends adding human trafficking to the  
            list of serious felonies and domestic violence offenses that  
            authorize conditional exams is necessary to protect threatened  
            witnesses. 

           2)Current law  states when a defendant has been charged with a  
            serious felony, as defined, or with domestic violence, the  
            people or the defendant may, if the defendant has been fully  
            informed of his right to counsel, have a witness conditionally  
            examined if there is evidence the life of the witness is in  
            jeopardy. (In the case of a domestic violence witness, the  
            threat must be from, or on behalf of, the defendant.)










                                                                  AB 1610
                                                                  Page  2




           Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081