California Assembly Bill AB1672 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1672AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 23, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mathis JANUARY 15, 2016 An act to add and repeal  Title 2.7 (commencing with Section 760) of Part 2 of the Penal   Section 68530 to the Government  Code, relating to courts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1672, as amended, Mathis. Veterans courts:  pilot program.   Judicial Council study.   Existing law establishes a statewide system of courts with a superior court of one or more judges in each county. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to prescribe the methods, means, and standards for electronic collection of data related to court administration, practice, and procedure.   This bill would require the Judicial Council to conduct, until January 1, 2018, a study on the impact of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice system and the use of technology to deliver veterans court services to counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts, if funds are received for the study, as specified. The bill would require the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature on the results of the study, as specified, on or before June 1, 2019.   Existing law, Section 6 of Article VI of the California Constitution, establishes the Judicial Council, chaired by the Chief Justice. Existing law authorizes the Chief Justice to expedite judicial business and equalize the work of judges by, among other things, assigning an active or retired judge to another court, as specified.   This bill would require the Judicial Council to establish and implement a pilot program for the purpose of establishing Veterans Courts in counties adjacent to the County of San Luis Obispo that, as of January 1, 2017, do not have veterans courts or veterans treatment courts, if funds are received for that purpose. The bill would authorize the Chief Justice to assign an active or retired judge to sit in one or more courts, and to travel between more than one court for the purpose of providing veterans court services. The bill would authorize the receipt of public or private funds for the implementation of the pilot program and establish the San Luis Obispo Regional Veterans Courts Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury for the deposit of those funds, which would be subject to appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would conclude the pilot program on January 1, 2020.   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of San Luis Obispo and adjacent counties.  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 68530 is added to the   Government Code   , to read:   68530. (a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the purpose of implementing this section, the Judicial Council shall, commencing on January 1, 2017, and concluding on January 1, 2018, study the following: (1) The impact of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice system, including, but not limited to, the impact on mental health, homelessness, employment, social stability, and substance abuse. (2) The use of technology to deliver veterans court services to counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts. (b) On or before June 1, 2019, the Judicial Council shall report to the Legislature on the results of the study. The report shall include recommendations regarding the expansion of veterans court services to counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts, including the feasibility and implementation of technology that will support that expansion. The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (c) Fifty percent of the funds required for the study and report described in this section shall be funded by private sources, and 50 percent of the funds required for the study shall be funded by the state, upon appropriation by the Legislature. (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.   SECTION 1.   Title 2.7 (commencing with Section 760) is added to Part 2 of the Penal Code, to read: TITLE 2.7. Veterans Courts Pilot Program 760. (a) If the Judicial Council receives funds for the purpose of implementing this title, the Judicial Council shall establish and implement a pilot program for the purpose of establishing veterans courts in counties adjacent to the County of San Luis Obispo that, as of January 1, 2017, do not have veterans courts or veterans treatment courts. (b) The pilot program established and implemented pursuant to subdivision (a) shall promote sobriety, recovery, and stability for veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system and whose court cases are affected by issues such as addiction, mental illness, and cooccurring disorders. (c) To provide the services described in subdivision (a), the Chief Justice may assign an active or retired judge to sit in one or more courts, and to travel between more than one court, as deemed appropriate by the Chief Justice. (d) The pilot program may be funded by public or private funds. There is established the San Luis Obispo Regional Veterans Courts Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys received for the purpose of implementing this title shall be deposited in the fund and shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature. (e) The pilot program shall conclude on January 1, 2020. 765. This title shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.   SEC. 2.   The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique need to establish veterans court services in the region surrounding the County of San Luis Obispo.