California 2015 2015-2016 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB1672 Amended / Bill

Filed 04/11/2016

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1672AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 11, 2016 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2016 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2016 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 23, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mathis (Coauthors: Assembly Members Chang and Chvez) JANUARY 15, 2016 An act to add and repeal Section 68530 of the Government Code, relating to courts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1672, as amended, Mathis. Veterans  and community   treatment  courts: Judicial Council  study.   assessment and survey.  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 veterans courts or veterans treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice system, the impact on veterans of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans treatment courts in those counties that do not have them, the utility of community courts as a substitute for veterans courts or veterans treatment courts, and the use of technology to deliver veterans court services to counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts,   assess, on a statewide basis, veterans treatment courts currently in operation, survey counties that do not operate veterans treatment courts to identify barriers to program implementation, and assess the need to establish veterans courts in those counties, as specified,  if funds are received for the  study, as specified.   assessment and survey.  The bill would require the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature on the results of the  study,   assessment and survey,  as specified, on or before June 1, 2019. 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 and assess   shall do all of  the following:  (1) The impact of veterans courts or veterans treatment courts on veterans involved with the criminal justice system, including, but not limited to, the impact on recidivism, mental health, homelessness, employment, social stability, and substance abuse.   (2) The impact of lack of access to veterans courts or veterans treatment courts on veterans involved in the criminal justice system in counties that do not have veterans courts or veterans treatment courts.   (3) The utility of community courts as a substitute for veterans courts in counties that do not have veterans courts or veterans treatment courts.   (4) The use of technology to deliver veterans court services to counties without veterans courts or veterans treatment courts.   (1) Assess, on a statewide basis, veterans treatment courts currently in operation, including the number of veteran participants in the program, available services, and program outcomes including, but not limited to, the number successful program completions or program terminations. The assessment shall evaluate the impact of a sample of veterans treatment courts on participant outcomes, including, but not limited to, program recidivism, mental health, homelessness, employment, social stability, and substance abuse.   (2) Survey counties that do not operate veterans treatment courts to identify barriers to program implementation and assess the need for veterans treatment courts in those jurisdictions based on available existing veterans services and the estimated number of veterans involved in the local criminal justice system. The survey shall identify alternative resources that may be available to veterans, such as community courts or other collaborative justice courts.  (b) On or before June 1, 2019, the Judicial Council shall report to the Legislature on the results of the  study.   assessment and survey described in subdivision (a).  The report shall include recommendations regarding the expansion of  veterans court services   veterans treatment courts  to counties without  veterans courts or  veterans treatment  courts, including the   courts and shall explore the  feasibility  and implementation of technology that will support that expansion.   of designing regional model veterans treatment courts through the use of service coordination or technological resources.  The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (c) Fifty percent of the funds required for the  study   assessment, survey,  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.