BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                    SB 659 
                                                                    Page  1

          Date of Hearing: August 18, 1998

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
                              Carole Migden, Chairwoman

                   SB 659 (Wright) - As Amended: August 16, 1999 

          Policy Committee:                              Human  
          ServicesVote:7 - 1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local  
          Program:YesReimbursable:   No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill permits individuals convicted of certain drug offenses  
          to receive CalWORKs and federal food stamp benefits, subject to  
          following conditions:

          1)The individual completed or is enrolled in a drug treatment  
            program, or at least five years have elapsed since the  
            individual fulfilled the conditions of parole or probation and  
            the individual has been tested and found not to be using a  
            controlled substance. 

          2)The individual submits to periodic drug testing.

          3)Requires a county-level interagency team comprised of  
            representatives from the county departments of social  
            services, alcohol and drug services, mental health services  
            and probation to provide case management services to all  
            families that include individuals receiving benefits under  
            this bill.

           FISCAL EFFECT
           
          The Department of Social Services estimates that to date, 44  
          individuals have been denied CalWORKs eligibility due to a  
          drug-related felony conviction.  Accordingly, the bill's annual  
          costs likely would not exceed $150,000 (General Fund, federal  
          and county funds).

           COMMENTS
           
           Purpose of the Bill  .  According to the author, a 1994 study  








                                                                    SB 659 
                                                                    Page  2

          commissioned by the Legislature found that substance abuse  
          treatment, child care, and preparation for employment would  
          reduce the return-to-custody rate for women with drug-related  
          offenses, and lessen the risk that their children are placed in  
          foster care or involved in the criminal justice system.   The  
          author asserts this bill will reduce the "parole-failure-rate"  
          by providing an opportunity for some individuals with  
          drug-related felonies to have access to drug treatment, child  
          care, and job training through CalWORKs provided they  
          successfully complete drug treatment.

          The Los Angeles District Attorney supports the bill because he  
          believes it is counterproductive to permanently deny public  
          assistance to a needy person solely because of a prior drug  
          conviction.  He asserts the bill will provide alternatives to a  
          lifestyle involving substance abuse by supporting those who  
          participate in treatment and submit to drug testing.  As a  
          result, he believes the bill ultimately will reduce drug-related  
          crime.

           Analysis Prepared by  : Bill Wehrle / APPR. / (916) 319-2081