BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2570
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 7, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                AB 2570 (Skinner) - As Introduced:  February 21, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Public  
          SafetyVote:  7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill adds health care to the list of Department of  
          Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) inmate and parolee  
          programs the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board (C-ROB)  
          must regularly examine, and make reports, findings, and  
          recommendations.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Absorbable costs to the Office of the Inspector General (total  
          budget of $17 million), which administers C-ROB, to add health  
          care to C-ROB's list of oversight areas. 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  . The author contends the role of health care is a  
            crucial element in CDCR programming that should explicitly  
            fall under the purview of C-ROB. 

            According to the author, "Currently, the Board is not required  
            to review health care programs that would help inmates and  
            parolees rehabilitate.  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."

           2)Current law  requires C-ROB to meet at least quarterly, and  








                                                                  AB 2570
                                                                  Page  2

            examine the various inmate and parolee mental health,  
            substance abuse, educational, and employment programs operated  
            by CDCR. C-ROB is required to report to the governor and  
            Legislature biannually and may submit other reports as  
            necessary.  

           3)It is not clear that additional health reports necessary  .  
            Correctional health care has been under the control of a  
            receiver appointed by a federal court since 2006 and has  
            received more scrutiny that any other aspect of correctional  
            policies in the past decade. The receiver is the executive  
            manager of medical care in California state prisons and  
            provides comprehensive reports to the Legislature and the  
            governor triannually, as well as monthly reports related to  
            the objectives in the receiver's Turnaround Plan of Action. 
                
              
            Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081