BILL NUMBER: AB 1961INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gilmore FEBRUARY 17, 2010 An act to amend Section 6141 of the Penal Code, relating to prisons. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1961, as introduced, Gilmore. California Rehabilitation Oversight Board: reports. Existing law establishes the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board in the Office of the Inspector General and requires the board to evaluate mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for inmates and parolees operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Existing law requires the board to submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature regarding the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation services and to make recommendations with respect to modification, additions, and eliminations of these programs. This bill would require the board's reports to recommend the elimination of any program or treatment effort the board finds is not cost effective or is unsuccessful. This bill would require the board to complete an evaluation of all of these programs by January 1, 2021, and would state the intention of the Legislature that the board complete 10% of its evaluation each year. 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 6141 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 6141. The California Rehabilitation Oversight Board shall meet at least quarterly, and shall regularly examine the various mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for inmates and parolees operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The board 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 the department, and levels of offender participation and success in the programs. The board shall also make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature with respect to modifications, additions, and eliminations of rehabilitation and treatment programs. Each report shall recommend the elimination of any rehabilitation or treatment program or treatment effort that the board finds is not cost effective or is unsuccessful and may include a recommendation that funding be redirected to more effective programs or treatment efforts. In performing its duties, the board shall use the work products developed for the department as a result of the provisions of the 2006 Budget Act, including Provision 18 of Item 5225-001-0001. The board shall complete the evaluation of all mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for inmates and parolees operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation by January 1, 2021. It is the intent of the Legislature that the board shall complete 10 percent of this evaluation each year and include that information in the reports required by this section.