BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 544
Author: DeSaulnier (D)
Amended: 1/6/14
Vote: 21
SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE : 7-0, 4/9/13
AYES: Hancock, Anderson, Block, De Le�n, Knight, Liu, Steinberg
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 5-0, 1/23/14
AYES: De Le�n, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
NO VOTE RECORDED: Walters, Gaines
SUBJECT : Violence prevention
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill enacts the California Violence Prevention
Act of 2013, and creates the California Violence Prevention
Authority (CVPA), within the Department of Public Health (DPH).
ANALYSIS : Existing law provides for multiple violence
prevention programs including, the California Gang, Crime, and
Violence Prevention Partnership Program; the California
Community Crime Resistance Program; the Rural Indian Crime
Prevention Program; and the sexual assault felony enforcement
team program.
This bill:
1. Enacts the California Violence Prevention Act of 2013 (Act),
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and creates the CVPA within DPH, and provides duties and
responsibilities, as specified.
2. Requires that CVPA have an advisory board "which shall meet
periodically to carry out the purposes of this title and to
execute the duties and responsibilities."
3. Requires that the advisory board include, and be chaired by,
the Attorney General, the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, and the State Public Health Officer.
4. Requires that the advisory board include the following:
A. The Secretary of California Health and Human Services,
or his/her designee, and one additional representative of
the California Health and Human Services Agency, to be
selected by the Secretary of the California Health and
Human Services.
B. The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, or
his/her designee.
C. The Director of Social Services, or his/her designee.
D. The Director of the Department of Aging, or his/her
designee.
E. The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation.
F. Six public members, each representing a health,
criminal justice, or civic association or organization
working in the area of violence prevention, or an advocate
for victims including domestic violence or sexual assault
victims. Three of the public members shall be appointed
by the Attorney General and three of the public members
shall be appointed by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction. Each public member shall be appointed for a
term of three years, and may be reappointed.
5. Creates the "Violence Prevention Fund" in the State Treasury,
and provides that funds "received from private, state, or
federal sources for violence prevention purposes may be
deposited into the fund. Upon appropriation by the
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Legislature, these funds shall be used by the California
Violence Prevention Authority to carry out the purposes of
this title."
6. Requires the DPH to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) to create a new specialty license plate to support the
proposed new program. The new program would not become
active until the DPH determines the sufficient revenues
available, including from a new specialty license plate.
Background
Under existing law, the state operates a variety of programs
intended to reduce violence in the state.
Current state programs include:
The Board of State and Community Corrections, which was
created to promote state and local partnerships in
California's adult and juvenile justice system.
The Carl Washington School Safety and Violence Prevention
Act, through which schools may be eligible for funding for
activities to reduce violence amongst students.
The California Gang, Crime and Violence Prevention
Partnership Program within the Department of Justice which
seeks to reduce gang-related violence in the state.
The Violence Prevention Unit within the DPH, which provides
grants to local community groups to prevent rape and domestic
violence. This program also coordinates policy with other
state programs developed to reduce violence.
Comments
According to the author's office, violence takes the lives of
nearly 6,000 Californians each year. In 2009, California had
3,743 suicides and 2,055 homicides. The Center for Disease
Control and Prevention reports that, youth violence is
widespread in the United States; it is the second leading
cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and
24. In 2010, 4,828 young people, ages 10 to 24 were victims
of homicide - an average of 13 each day. In 2011, 707,212
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young people, ages 10 to 24 were treated in emergency
departments for injuries sustained from physical assaults.
In 2011, 20% of high school students reported being bullied
on school property.
Youth violence is a tragic public health problem that affects
physical, mental and emotional health and it is estimated
that incidents of violence cost an estimated $70 billion a
year in the United States. Research shows that violence is
largely preventable and there are proven strategies to reduce
violence with early intervention and supports for families
and communities exposed to violence.
This bill creates the CVPA that will provide leadership,
support, and coordination for community-based violence
prevention programming including comprehensive Pre K-12
school based violence prevention programs, family violence
and sexual assault prevention initiatives, healthcare, and
alcohol and substance abuse prevention efforts.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
One-time costs of about $75,000 for DPH to apply to DMV to
create a new license plate to support the proposed program and
to track potential purchaser information (General Fund).
One-time costs of about $400,000 for DMV to make programming
changes necessary to create a new license plate to support the
proposed program (special fund).
One-time costs of $370,000 for DPH to develop a strategic
plan, coordinate with other state agencies, and convene an
advisory committee (General Fund or special fund).
Ongoing administrative costs of $625,000 per year to
coordinate with other state agencies, support the advisory
committee, and evaluate programs (General Fund or special
fund).
Unknown ongoing costs to provide grants to local and statewide
organizations (General Fund or special fund).
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SUPPORT : (Verified 1/23/14)
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
National Association of Social Workers
Partnership for Children and Youth
JG:ke 1/23/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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