California Assembly Bill AB674 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 674AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 17, 2010 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 15, 2010 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 25, 2010 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 4, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Salas FEBRUARY 25, 2009 An act to amend Section 1170.9 of the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 674, as amended, Salas. Criminal procedure: veterans. Existing law provides that if a person is convicted of a criminal offense and alleges that he or she committed the offense as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or psychological problems stemming from service in combat in the United States military, the court shall hold a hearing prior to sentencing to make a determination about the allegation. If the court finds that the defendant's crime was committed as a result of one of those factors related to serving in combat, and the court places the person on probation, existing law authorizes the court to place the person into a treatment program, as specified. This bill would  instead  , if the defendant alleges that he or she committed the offense as a result of sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems stemming from military service in the United States military, require the court to make a determination as to whether a defendant was, or currently is, a member of the United States military  ,  and  would authorize the court to request through the use of existing resources an assessment of  whether the defendant may be suffering from any of those disorders  , before placing an otherwise eligible defendant on probation and ordering the defendant into a treatment program, as specified. The bill would authorize the court to req   uest, through existing resources, an assessment to aid in the determination of whether the defendant may be suffering from any of those disorders  . The bill would eliminate the requirement that the offense be committed as a result of problems stemming from service in a combat theater.  Existing law provides that if a referral for treatment is made by the court to the county mental health authority pursuant to the above provisions, the county shall be obligated to provide mental health treatment services only to the extent that resources are available for that purpose, as provided.   The bill would provide that a county's obligation to provide mental health treatment services is alternatively contingent upon any resources for the implementation of mental health treatment services being appropriated by the state. The bill would eliminate the requirement that an order be made referring the defendant to a county mental health agency only if the agency agreed to accept responsibility for treatment of the defendant.  The bill would  require   authorize  the court and  the   an  assigned treatment program to collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Veterans Administration to maximize benefits and services.  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: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes   no  . State-mandated local program:  yes   no  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 1170.9 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 1170.9. (a) In the case of any person convicted of a criminal offense who could otherwise be sentenced to county jail or state prison and who alleges that he or she committed the offense as a result of sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems stemming from service in the United States military, the court shall, prior to sentencing, make a determination as to whether the defendant was, or currently is, a member of the United States military and  may request through the use of existing resources an assessment of  whether the defendant may be suffering from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of that service.  The court may request, through existing resources, an assessment to aid in that determination.  (b) If the court concludes that a defendant convicted of a criminal offense is a person described in subdivision (a), and if the defendant is otherwise eligible for probation and the court places the defendant on probation, the court may order the defendant into a local, state, federal, or private nonprofit treatment program for a period not to exceed that which the defendant would have served in state prison or county jail, provided the defendant agrees to participate in the program and the court determines that an appropriate treatment program exists. (c) If a referral is made to the county mental health authority, the county shall be obligated to provide mental health treatment services only to the extent that resources are available for that purpose, as described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 5600.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code  , or contingent upon any resources for the implementation of mental health treatment services being appropriated by the state  . If mental health treatment services are ordered by the court, the county mental health agency shall coordinate appropriate referral of the defendant to the county veterans service officer, as described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 5600.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The county mental health agency shall not be responsible for providing services outside its traditional scope of services.  An order shall be made referring a defendant to a county mental health agency only if that agency has agreed to accept responsibility for the treatment of the defendant.  (d) When determining the "needs of the defendant," for purposes of Section 1202.7, the court shall consider the fact that the defendant is a person described in subdivision (a) in assessing whether the defendant should be placed on probation and ordered into a federal or community-based treatment service program with a demonstrated history of specializing in the treatment of mental health problems, including substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and other related mental health problems. (e) A defendant granted probation under this section and committed to a residential treatment program shall earn sentence credits for the actual time the defendant serves in residential treatment. (f) The court, in making an order under this section to commit a defendant to an established treatment program, shall give preference to a treatment program that has a history of successfully treating veterans who suffer from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of that service, including, but not limited to, programs operated by the United States Department of Defense or the United States Veterans Administration. (g) The court and the assigned treatment program  shall   may  collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Veterans Administration to maximize benefits and services provided to the veteran.  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.