BILL NUMBER: AB 1712	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 15, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   FEBRUARY 18, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   FEBRUARY 10, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cunneen

                        JANUARY 3, 2000

   An act to add Section 13848.8 to the Penal Code, relating to high
technology crime  courts  .


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1712, as amended, Cunneen.  High technology crime courts.
   Existing law establishes the High Technology Theft Apprehension
and Prosecution Program which provides a program of financial and
technical assistance for law enforcement and district attorneys'
offices.  
   This bill would authorize San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa
Clara Counties to establish a high technology crime court to hear
criminal cases brought under the High Technology Theft Apprehension
and Prosecution Program and any other high technology crime deemed
appropriate by the presiding judge in the respective county.  Those
specified counties would be authorized to designate judicial
resources to establish and support the high technology crime court.
The bill would also require the Judicial Council to devise
appropriate training and guidelines to implement this program.
 
   This bill would establish in the Office of The Attorney General a
grant program to be administered by the Attorney General wherein
grants would be awarded to law enforcement agencies and nonprofit
organizations on the basis of competitive applications.  The bill
would provide that the purpose of a grant awarded pursuant to this
program is to develop an instructional course, as specified, that may
be offered to district attorneys, law enforcement personnel, and
members of the judicial branch.  To implement this program, the
Legislature would encourage the use of federal funds, where
available, in conjunction with any pertinent appropriations made at
the state level. 
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 13848.8 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

   13848.8.  (a) The Counties of San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa
Clara may establish a high technology crime court to hear criminal
cases brought under the High Technology Theft Apprehension and
Prosecution Program pursuant to this chapter and any other high
technology crime deemed appropriate by the presiding judge in the
respective county.
   (b) The counties specified in subdivision (a) may designate
judicial resources to establish and support the high technology crime
court.
   (c) The Judicial Council shall devise appropriate training and
guidelines to implement this section.   
   13848.8.  (a) There is hereby established in the Office of The
Attorney General a grant program to be administered by the Attorney
General.  The grants awarded pursuant to this program shall be
awarded to law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations on
the basis of competitive applications.
   (b) The purpose of a grant awarded pursuant to this section is to
develop an instructional course that may be offered to district
attorneys, law enforcement personnel, and members of the judicial
branch.  The course shall cover investigation, prosecution, and other
forensic issues involving high technology crime, as consistent with
the subject matter of this chapter.
   (c) In order to implement this program, the Legislature encourages
the use of federal funds, where available, in conjunction with any
appropriations made at the state level for the type of educational
grant described in this section.