BILL NUMBER: AB 674INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Salas FEBRUARY 25, 2009 An act to add Chapter 2.97 (commencing with Section 1001.91) to Title 6 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 674, as introduced, Salas. Criminal procedure: veterans. Existing law establishes various diversion and deferred entry of judgment programs for, among other things, substance abuse treatment. Existing provisions of the California Constitution require a 2/3 vote of the membership of each house of the Legislature for a bill that would exclude relevant evidence in a criminal proceeding. This bill would establish a deferred entry of judgment program and a preconviction drug diversion program for veterans, as specified, who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, as specified, and who commit specified offenses. Because this program would provide for the exclusion of certain urine analysis results and statements of program participants from criminal proceedings, the bill would require a 2/3 vote. By imposing additional burdens on local government entities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Chapter 2.97 (commencing with Section 1001.91) is added to Title 6 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, to read: CHAPTER 2.97. SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS IN CASES INVOLVING VETERANS 1001.91. (a) Except as otherwise required by the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000, this chapter shall apply whenever a case is before any court upon an accusatory pleading charging the defendant with a misdemeanor or felony and the defendant is a veteran, as defined in Section 980 of the Military and Veterans Code, who has been diagnosed with service connected post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury as a result of his or her military service or who has undiagnosed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury as a result of stressors that he or she was exposed to in a combat situation in the military service as proven by his or her service record that includes the veteran's service form DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) with Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, or any decoration with a "V" for valor, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, or Congressional Medal of Honor and all of the following apply: (1) The offense charged did not involve a crime of violence or threatened violence. (2) The crime charged is not a serious felony as defined in Section 1192.7 or 1192.8 and is not a violent felony as listed in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5. (3) The defendant's record does not indicate that probation or parole has ever been revoked without thereafter being completed. (4) The defendant's record does not indicate that he or she has successfully completed or been terminated from diversion or deferred entry of judgment pursuant to this chapter within five years prior to the alleged commission of the charged offense. (5) The defendant has no prior felony conviction within five years prior to the alleged commission of the charged offense. (b) The prosecuting attorney shall review his or her file to determine whether or not paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) apply to the defendant. Upon the agreement of the prosecuting attorney, law enforcement, the public defender, and the presiding judge of the criminal division of the superior court or a judge designated by the presiding judge, this procedure shall be completed as soon as possible after the initial filing of the charges. If the defendant is found eligible, the prosecuting attorney shall file with the court a declaration in writing or state for the record the grounds upon which the determination is based, and shall make this information available to the defendant and his or her attorney. This procedure is intended to allow the court to set the hearing for deferred entry of judgment at the arraignment. If the defendant is found ineligible for deferred entry of judgment, the prosecuting attorney shall file with the court a declaration in writing or state for the record the grounds upon which the determination is based, and shall make this information available to the defendant and his or her attorney. The sole remedy of a defendant who is found ineligible for deferred entry of judgment is a postconviction appeal. (c) All referrals for deferred entry of judgment granted by the court pursuant to this chapter shall be made only to programs that have been certified by the county veterans service officer, or other appropriate officer designated by the county pursuant to this section, or to programs that provide services at no cost to the participant and have been deemed by the court and the county to be credible and effective. The defendant may request to be referred to a program in any county, as long as that program meets the criteria set forth in this subdivision. (d) Any defendant who is participating in a program referred to in this section may be required to undergo analysis of his or her urine for the purpose of testing for the presence of any drug or alcohol as part of the program. However, urine analysis results shall not be admissible as a basis for any new criminal prosecution or proceeding. 1001.92. (a) If the prosecuting attorney determines that this chapter may be applicable to the defendant, he or she shall advise the defendant and his or her attorney in writing of that determination. This notification shall include the following: (1) A full description of the procedures for deferred entry of judgment. (2) A general explanation of the roles and authorities of the probation department, the prosecuting attorney, the program, and the court in the process. (3) A clear statement that in lieu of trial, the court may grant deferred entry of judgment with respect to any crime specified in subdivision (a) of Section 1001.91 that is charged, provided that the defendant pleads guilty to each charge and waives time for the pronouncement of judgment, and that upon the defendant's successful completion of a program, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 1001.91, the positive recommendation of the program authority and the motion of the prosecuting attorney, the court, or the probation department, but no sooner than 18 months and no later than three years from the date of the defendant's referral to the program, the court shall dismiss the charge or charges against the defendant. (4) A clear statement that upon any failure of treatment or condition under the program, or any circumstance specified in Section 1001.94, the prosecuting attorney, the probation department, or the court on its own may make a motion to the court for entry of judgment and the court shall render a finding of guilt to the charge or charges pled, enter judgment, and schedule a sentencing hearing as otherwise provided in this chapter. (5) An explanation of criminal record retention and disposition resulting from participation in the deferred entry of judgment program and the defendant's rights relative to answering questions about his or her arrest and deferred entry of judgment following successful completion of the program. (b) If the defendant consents and waives his or her right to a speedy trial or a speedy preliminary hearing, the court may refer the case to the probation department or the court may summarily grant deferred entry of judgment if the defendant pleads guilty to the charge or charges and waives time for the pronouncement of judgment. When directed by the court, the probation department shall make an investigation and take into consideration the defendant's age, employment and service records, educational background, community and family ties, prior controlled substance use, prior use of alcoholic beverages, homelessness, treatment history, if any, demonstrable motivation, and other mitigating factors in determining whether the defendant is a person who would be benefited by education, treatment, or rehabilitation. The probation department shall also determine which programs the defendant would benefit from and which programs would accept the defendant. The probation department shall report its findings and recommendations to the court. The court shall make the final determination regarding education, treatment, or rehabilitation for the defendant. If the court determines that it is appropriate, the court shall grant deferred entry of judgment if the defendant pleads guilty to the charge or charges and waives time for the pronouncement of judgment. (c) No statement, or any information procured therefrom, made by the defendant to any probation officer, drug or treatment program worker, county veterans service officer, or other assigned county employee that is made during the course of any investigation conducted by the probation department or treatment program pursuant to subdivision (b), and prior to the reporting of the probation department's findings and recommendations to the court, shall be admissible in any action or proceeding brought subsequent to the investigation. No statement, or any information procured therefrom, with respect to the specific offense with which the defendant is charged, that is made to any probation officer, drug or treatment program worker, county veterans service officer, or other assigned county employee subsequent to the granting of deferred entry of judgment, shall be admissible in any action or proceeding, including a sentencing hearing. (d) A defendant's plea of guilty pursuant to this chapter shall not constitute a conviction for any purpose unless a judgment of guilty is entered pursuant to Section 1001.94. 1001.93. (a) The court shall hold a hearing and, after consideration of any information relevant to its decision, shall determine if the defendant consents to further proceedings under this chapter and if the defendant should be granted deferred entry of judgment. If the court does not deem the defendant a person who would be benefited by deferred entry of judgment, or if the defendant does not consent to participate, the proceedings shall continue as in any other case. (b) At the time that deferred entry of judgment is granted, any bail bond or undertaking, or deposit in lieu thereof, on file by or on behalf of the defendant shall be exonerated, and the court shall enter an order so directing. (c) The period during which deferred entry of judgment is granted shall be for no less than 18 months and no longer than three years. Progress reports shall be filed by the probation department with the court as directed by the court. 1001.94. (a) If it appears to the prosecuting attorney, the court, or the probation department that the defendant is performing unsatisfactorily in the assigned program, is not benefiting from education, treatment, or rehabilitation, is convicted of a misdemeanor that reflects the defendant's propensity for violence, is convicted of a felony, or has engaged in criminal conduct rendering him or her unsuitable for deferred entry of judgment, the prosecuting attorney, the court on its own, or the probation department may make a motion for entry of judgment. After notice to the defendant, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether judgment should be entered. (b) If the court finds that the defendant is not performing satisfactorily in the assigned program, is not benefiting from education, treatment, or rehabilitation, has been convicted of a crime as indicated above, or has engaged in criminal conduct rendering him or her unsuitable for deferred entry of judgment, the court shall render a finding of guilt to the charge or charges pled, enter judgment, and schedule a sentencing hearing as otherwise provided in this chapter. (c) If the defendant has performed satisfactorily during the period in which deferred entry of judgment was granted, at the end of that period, the criminal charge or charges shall be dismissed. Prior to dismissing the charge or charges or rendering a finding of guilt and entering judgment, the court shall consider the defendant's ability to pay and whether the defendant has paid a diversion restitution fee pursuant to Section 1001.90, if ordered, and has met his or her financial obligation to the program, if any. As provided in Section 1203.1b, the defendant shall reimburse the probation department for the reasonable cost of any program investigation or progress report filed with the court as directed pursuant to Sections 1001.91 and 1001.92. 1001.95. (a) Any record filed with the Department of Justice shall indicate the disposition in those cases deferred pursuant to this chapter. Upon successful completion of a deferred entry of judgment program, the arrest upon which the judgment was deferred shall be deemed to have never occurred. The defendant may indicate in response to any question concerning his or her prior criminal record that he or she was not arrested or granted deferred entry of judgment for the offense, except as specified in subdivision (b). A record pertaining to an arrest resulting in successful completion of a deferred entry of judgment program shall not, without the defendant' s consent, be used in any way that could result in the denial of any employment, benefit, license, or certificate. (b) The defendant shall be advised that, regardless of his or her successful completion of the deferred entry of judgment program, the arrest upon which the judgment was deferred may be disclosed by the Department of Justice in response to any peace officer application request and that, notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not relieve him or her of the obligation to disclose the arrest in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for a position as a peace officer, as defined in Section 830. 1001.96. (a) Except as otherwise required by the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000, the presiding judge of the superior court, or a judge designated by the presiding judge, together with the district attorney and the public defender, may agree in writing to establish and conduct a preguilty plea drug court program pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, wherein criminal proceedings are suspended without a plea of guilty for designated defendants. The drug court program shall include a regimen of graduated sanctions and rewards, individual and group therapy, urine analysis testing commensurate with treatment needs, close court monitoring and supervision of progress, educational or vocational counseling as appropriate, and other requirements as agreed to by the presiding judge or his or her designee, the district attorney, and the public defender. If there is no agreement in writing for a preguilty plea program by the presiding judge or his or her designee, the district attorney, and the public defender, the program shall be operated as a deferred entry of judgment program as provided in this chapter. (b) The provisions of Sections 1001.94 and 1001.95 regarding satisfactory and unsatisfactory performance in a program shall apply to preguilty plea programs. If the court finds that the defendant is not performing satisfactorily in the assigned program, is not benefiting from education, treatment, or rehabilitation, has been convicted of a crime specified in Section 1000.3, or has engaged in criminal conduct rendering him or her unsuitable for the preguilty plea program, the court shall reinstate the criminal charge or charges. If the defendant has performed satisfactorily during the period of the preguilty plea program, at the end of that period, the criminal charge or charges shall be dismissed and the provisions of Section 1001.95 shall apply. SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. ____ CORRECTIONS Digest--Page 1. Text--Page 2. ____