BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2570
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 29, 2014
Counsel: Stella Choe
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Tom Ammiano, Chair
AB 2570 (Skinner) - As Introduced: February 21, 2014
SUMMARY : Adds health care programs as one of the types of
programs for inmates and parolees operated by the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) that the California
Rehabilitation Oversight Board (C-ROB) must regularly examine,
and make reports, findings, and recommendations.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Creates C-ROB within the Office of the Inspector General
(OIG), and states that C-ROB shall consist of the following 11
members (Pen. Code, � 6140):
a) The Inspector General, who shall serve as chair.
b) The Secretary of CDCR.
c) The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or his or her
designee.
d) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, or
his or her designee.
e) The Director of Health Care Services, or his or her
designee.
f) The Director of State Hospitals, or his or her designee.
g) A faculty member of the University of California who has
expertise in rehabilitation of criminal offenders,
appointed by the President of the University of California.
h) A faculty member of the California State University, who
has expertise in rehabilitation of criminal offenders,
appointed by the Chancellor of the California State
University.
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i) A county sheriff, appointed by the Governor.
j) A county chief probation officer, appointed by the
Senate Committee on Rules.
aa) A local government official who provides mental health,
substance abuse, or educational services to criminal
offenders, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
2)Requires C-ROB to meet at least quarterly, and regularly
examine the various mental health, substance abuse,
educational, and employment programs for inmates and parolees
operated by CDCR. C-ROB shall report to the Governor and the
Legislature biannually, on March 15 and September 15, and may
submit other reports during the year if it finds they are
necessary. The reports shall include, but are not limited to,
findings on the effectiveness of treatment efforts,
rehabilitation needs of offenders, gaps in rehabilitation
services in CDCR, and levels of offender participation and
success in the programs. C-ROB shall also make recommendations
to the Governor and Legislature with respect to modifications,
additions, and eliminations of rehabilitation and treatment
programs. (Pen. Code, � 6141.)
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
1)Author's Statement : According to the author, "There are a
variety of programs that assist inmates and parolees become
productive citizens in our communities. Under current law,
the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board (The Board) is
the entity charged with reviewing these rehabilitation and
treatment programs. The goal of this review is to ensure that
the State has adequate services for inmates and parolees and
also to identify deficiencies. The Board was created in 2007
to provide recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor
on whether inmate rehabilitation and treatment programs need
modification, additions, or elimination. Successful
rehabilitation programs would mean less recidivism throughout
the state.
"Currently, the Board is not required to review health care
programs that would help inmates and parolees rehabilitate.
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The health care of an inmate is a key factor in whether he or
she will be able to successfully reintegrate into society.
Inmates who need medical attention in prison are likely to
also need health care once released. Research shows that
formerly incarcerated individuals who have access to medical
services upon release have reduced recidivism rates,
increasing the likelihood they will become productive
citizens. A recent report studying the social and health
factors affecting recently released inmates concludes that
health insurance coverage for recently released inmates is
strongly associated with reduced recidivism rates for men and
women. Adding health care review to the Board's purview would
allow the state to identify programs to assist inmates who
will need medical services upon release.
"Furthermore, MediCal has been expanded to previously
uncovered populations in California, including single men
making less than 133% of the federal poverty rate. Under the
expansion, a portion of individuals currently sentenced, and
those recently released, are now eligible for MediCal. The
Board should review health care programs to better understand
ways to help formerly incarcerated individuals take advantage
of the recent MediCal expansion.
"AB 2570 requires the California Rehabilitation Oversight
Board to review and examine health care programs that are
offered to inmates and parolees. This would allow the Board to
make recommendations to the Legislature on any possible
remedies that would make these programs more efficient and
effective."
2)Background : According to the OIG's web site, "Assembly Bill
900 (the Public Safety and Offender Rehabilitation Services
Act of 2007) created the California Rehabilitation Oversight
Board (C-ROB) within the Office of the Inspector General.
C-ROB's mandate is to regularly examine the various mental
health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs
for inmates and parolees operated by the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation (department).
"C-ROB shall meet no less than quarterly and shall submit
reports to the Governor and the Legislature no less than
biannually (March 15 and September 15). C-ROB reports shall
include findings on the effectiveness of treatment efforts,
rehabilitation needs of offenders, gaps in offender
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rehabilitation services in the department, and levels of
offender participation and success in the programs. The board
shall also make recommendations to the Governor and the
Legislature with respect to modifications, additions, and
eliminations of offender rehabilitation and treatment
programs. C-ROB reports shall be available to the public and
may be downloaded from this Web site."
( [as of Apr. 23,
2014.)
"C-ROB, in doing its work, is required by statute to use the
findings and recommendations published by the Expert Panel on
Adult Offender and Recidivism Reduction Programs. The Expert
Panel Report stresses that the well-established means of
program provision called evidence-based programming is
essential to the success of these suggested programs.
Briefly, evidence-based programming assumes that programs are
appropriate to the needs of the offender, that the programs
are well conceived, administered, and staffed, and that they
are continuously evaluated for effectiveness. Not all
substance abuse programs or work preparation programs are
alike. Evidence-based programming allows agencies to select
the most appropriate and potentially effective programs to
meet the needs of offenders under their supervision." (See
C-ROB Biannual Report (March 15, 2014), pg. 2.)
"The Expert Panel identified eight evidence-based principles
and practices, collectively called the California Logic Model.
The California Logic Model shows what effective rehabilitation
programming would look like if California implemented the
Expert Panel's recommendations. The California Logic Model
provides the framework for effective rehabilitation
programming as an offender moves through the State
correctional system.
"The eight basic components of the California Logic Model are:
a) Assess high risk. Target offenders who pose the highest
risk to reoffend.
b) Assess needs. Identify offenders' criminogenic
needs/dynamic risk factors.
c) Develop behavior management plans. Utilize assessment
results to develop an individualized case plan.
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d) Deliver programs. Deliver cognitive behavioral programs
offering varying levels of duration and intensity.
e) Measure progress. Periodically evaluate progress, update
treatment plans, measure treatment gains, and determine
appropriateness for program completion.
f) Prepare for reentry. Develop a formal reentry plan prior
to program completion to ensure a continuum of care.
g) Reintegrate. Provide aftercare through collaboration
with community providers.
h) Follow up. Track offenders and collect outcome data.
"National research has produced evidence that for every $1.00
invested in rehabilitative programming for offenders, at least
$2.50 is saved in correctional costs." (Id. at pp. 2-3.)
3)Prior Legislation :
a) AB 720 (Skinner), Chapter 646, Statutes of 2013,
requires the board of supervisors in each county to
designate an entity to assist certain jail inmates to apply
for a health insurance affordability program, as defined.
Prohibits county jail inmates who are currently enrolled in
the Medi-Cal from being terminated from the program due to
their detention, unless required by federal law or they
become otherwise ineligible, as specified.
b) AB 900 (Solorio), Chapter 7, Statutes of 2007, created
C-ROB within the Office of the Inspector General to
regularly examine and report to the Legislature and
Governor on the various mental health, substance abuse, and
educational and employment programs for inmates and
parolees operated by CDCR. AB 900 also provided that C-ROB
shall make recommendations with respect to modifications,
additions, and eliminations of rehabilitation and treatment
programs.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 2570
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Taxpayers for Improving Public Safety
Opposition
None
Analysis Prepared by : Stella Choe / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744