| 1 | 1 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 741Introduced by Assembly Member RansomFebruary 18, 2025 An act to amend Section 11105.04 of the Penal Code, relating to the Department of Justice.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 741, as introduced, Ransom. Department of Justice: child abuse reporting.Existing law requires the Department of Justice (department) to maintain an index of all reports of child abuse and severe neglect submitted by agencies mandated to make those reports. Existing law requires the department to make relevant information contained in the index available to specified law enforcement agencies, county welfare departments, and other agencies that are conducting a child abuse investigation.Existing law authorizes a designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to submit fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates to the department for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on their own recognizance pending trial. Existing law requires the department to charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information and prohibits the department from charging a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.This bill would require the department to monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is added to that index. The bill would authorize the department to increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate to cover the cost of processing those subsequent notifications.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 11105.04 of the Penal Code is amended to read:11105.04. (a) A designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program may submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of any a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on his or her their own recognizance pending trial. Requests A request for federal-level criminal offender record information received by the department pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department.(b) When requesting state-level criminal offender record information pursuant to this section, the designated CASA program shall request a subsequent arrest notification, pursuant to Section 11105.2, for all employment and volunteer candidates.(c) The department shall monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is subsequently added to the Child Abuse Central Index.(c)(d) The department shall respond to the designated CASA program with information as delineated in subdivision (p) of Section 11105.(d)(e) (1) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information.(2) The department shall not charge a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.(3) The department may increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate sufficient to cover the cost of processing subsequent notifications of child abuse investigations from the Child Abuse Central Index.(e)(f) For purposes of this section, a designated CASA program is a local court-appointed special advocate program that has adopted and adheres to the guidelines established by the Judicial Council and which has been designated by the local presiding juvenile court judge to recruit, screen, select, train, supervise, and support lay volunteers to be appointed by the court to help define the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency and wardship proceedings. For purposes of this section, there shall be only one designated CASA program in each California county. |
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| 3 | 3 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 741Introduced by Assembly Member RansomFebruary 18, 2025 An act to amend Section 11105.04 of the Penal Code, relating to the Department of Justice.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 741, as introduced, Ransom. Department of Justice: child abuse reporting.Existing law requires the Department of Justice (department) to maintain an index of all reports of child abuse and severe neglect submitted by agencies mandated to make those reports. Existing law requires the department to make relevant information contained in the index available to specified law enforcement agencies, county welfare departments, and other agencies that are conducting a child abuse investigation.Existing law authorizes a designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to submit fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates to the department for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on their own recognizance pending trial. Existing law requires the department to charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information and prohibits the department from charging a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.This bill would require the department to monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is added to that index. The bill would authorize the department to increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate to cover the cost of processing those subsequent notifications.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO |
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| 9 | 9 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION |
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| 11 | 11 | | Assembly Bill |
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| 13 | 13 | | No. 741 |
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| 15 | 15 | | Introduced by Assembly Member RansomFebruary 18, 2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | Introduced by Assembly Member Ransom |
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| 18 | 18 | | February 18, 2025 |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | An act to amend Section 11105.04 of the Penal Code, relating to the Department of Justice. |
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| 21 | 21 | | |
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| 22 | 22 | | LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST |
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| 23 | 23 | | |
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| 24 | 24 | | ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST |
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| 25 | 25 | | |
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| 26 | 26 | | AB 741, as introduced, Ransom. Department of Justice: child abuse reporting. |
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| 27 | 27 | | |
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| 28 | 28 | | Existing law requires the Department of Justice (department) to maintain an index of all reports of child abuse and severe neglect submitted by agencies mandated to make those reports. Existing law requires the department to make relevant information contained in the index available to specified law enforcement agencies, county welfare departments, and other agencies that are conducting a child abuse investigation.Existing law authorizes a designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to submit fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates to the department for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on their own recognizance pending trial. Existing law requires the department to charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information and prohibits the department from charging a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.This bill would require the department to monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is added to that index. The bill would authorize the department to increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate to cover the cost of processing those subsequent notifications. |
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| 30 | 30 | | Existing law requires the Department of Justice (department) to maintain an index of all reports of child abuse and severe neglect submitted by agencies mandated to make those reports. Existing law requires the department to make relevant information contained in the index available to specified law enforcement agencies, county welfare departments, and other agencies that are conducting a child abuse investigation. |
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| 32 | 32 | | Existing law authorizes a designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to submit fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates to the department for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on their own recognizance pending trial. Existing law requires the department to charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information and prohibits the department from charging a fee for state-level criminal offender record information. |
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| 34 | 34 | | This bill would require the department to monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is added to that index. The bill would authorize the department to increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate to cover the cost of processing those subsequent notifications. |
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| 35 | 35 | | |
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| 36 | 36 | | ## Digest Key |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | ## Bill Text |
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| 40 | 40 | | The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 11105.04 of the Penal Code is amended to read:11105.04. (a) A designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program may submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of any a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on his or her their own recognizance pending trial. Requests A request for federal-level criminal offender record information received by the department pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department.(b) When requesting state-level criminal offender record information pursuant to this section, the designated CASA program shall request a subsequent arrest notification, pursuant to Section 11105.2, for all employment and volunteer candidates.(c) The department shall monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is subsequently added to the Child Abuse Central Index.(c)(d) The department shall respond to the designated CASA program with information as delineated in subdivision (p) of Section 11105.(d)(e) (1) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information.(2) The department shall not charge a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.(3) The department may increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate sufficient to cover the cost of processing subsequent notifications of child abuse investigations from the Child Abuse Central Index.(e)(f) For purposes of this section, a designated CASA program is a local court-appointed special advocate program that has adopted and adheres to the guidelines established by the Judicial Council and which has been designated by the local presiding juvenile court judge to recruit, screen, select, train, supervise, and support lay volunteers to be appointed by the court to help define the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency and wardship proceedings. For purposes of this section, there shall be only one designated CASA program in each California county. |
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| 42 | 42 | | The people of the State of California do enact as follows: |
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| 44 | 44 | | ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows: |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 1. Section 11105.04 of the Penal Code is amended to read:11105.04. (a) A designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program may submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of any a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on his or her their own recognizance pending trial. Requests A request for federal-level criminal offender record information received by the department pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department.(b) When requesting state-level criminal offender record information pursuant to this section, the designated CASA program shall request a subsequent arrest notification, pursuant to Section 11105.2, for all employment and volunteer candidates.(c) The department shall monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is subsequently added to the Child Abuse Central Index.(c)(d) The department shall respond to the designated CASA program with information as delineated in subdivision (p) of Section 11105.(d)(e) (1) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information.(2) The department shall not charge a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.(3) The department may increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate sufficient to cover the cost of processing subsequent notifications of child abuse investigations from the Child Abuse Central Index.(e)(f) For purposes of this section, a designated CASA program is a local court-appointed special advocate program that has adopted and adheres to the guidelines established by the Judicial Council and which has been designated by the local presiding juvenile court judge to recruit, screen, select, train, supervise, and support lay volunteers to be appointed by the court to help define the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency and wardship proceedings. For purposes of this section, there shall be only one designated CASA program in each California county. |
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| 48 | 48 | | SECTION 1. Section 11105.04 of the Penal Code is amended to read: |
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| 50 | 50 | | ### SECTION 1. |
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| 52 | 52 | | 11105.04. (a) A designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program may submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of any a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on his or her their own recognizance pending trial. Requests A request for federal-level criminal offender record information received by the department pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department.(b) When requesting state-level criminal offender record information pursuant to this section, the designated CASA program shall request a subsequent arrest notification, pursuant to Section 11105.2, for all employment and volunteer candidates.(c) The department shall monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is subsequently added to the Child Abuse Central Index.(c)(d) The department shall respond to the designated CASA program with information as delineated in subdivision (p) of Section 11105.(d)(e) (1) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information.(2) The department shall not charge a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.(3) The department may increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate sufficient to cover the cost of processing subsequent notifications of child abuse investigations from the Child Abuse Central Index.(e)(f) For purposes of this section, a designated CASA program is a local court-appointed special advocate program that has adopted and adheres to the guidelines established by the Judicial Council and which has been designated by the local presiding juvenile court judge to recruit, screen, select, train, supervise, and support lay volunteers to be appointed by the court to help define the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency and wardship proceedings. For purposes of this section, there shall be only one designated CASA program in each California county. |
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| 54 | 54 | | 11105.04. (a) A designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program may submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of any a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on his or her their own recognizance pending trial. Requests A request for federal-level criminal offender record information received by the department pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department.(b) When requesting state-level criminal offender record information pursuant to this section, the designated CASA program shall request a subsequent arrest notification, pursuant to Section 11105.2, for all employment and volunteer candidates.(c) The department shall monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is subsequently added to the Child Abuse Central Index.(c)(d) The department shall respond to the designated CASA program with information as delineated in subdivision (p) of Section 11105.(d)(e) (1) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information.(2) The department shall not charge a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.(3) The department may increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate sufficient to cover the cost of processing subsequent notifications of child abuse investigations from the Child Abuse Central Index.(e)(f) For purposes of this section, a designated CASA program is a local court-appointed special advocate program that has adopted and adheres to the guidelines established by the Judicial Council and which has been designated by the local presiding juvenile court judge to recruit, screen, select, train, supervise, and support lay volunteers to be appointed by the court to help define the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency and wardship proceedings. For purposes of this section, there shall be only one designated CASA program in each California county. |
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| 56 | 56 | | 11105.04. (a) A designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program may submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of any a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on his or her their own recognizance pending trial. Requests A request for federal-level criminal offender record information received by the department pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department.(b) When requesting state-level criminal offender record information pursuant to this section, the designated CASA program shall request a subsequent arrest notification, pursuant to Section 11105.2, for all employment and volunteer candidates.(c) The department shall monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is subsequently added to the Child Abuse Central Index.(c)(d) The department shall respond to the designated CASA program with information as delineated in subdivision (p) of Section 11105.(d)(e) (1) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information.(2) The department shall not charge a fee for state-level criminal offender record information.(3) The department may increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate sufficient to cover the cost of processing subsequent notifications of child abuse investigations from the Child Abuse Central Index.(e)(f) For purposes of this section, a designated CASA program is a local court-appointed special advocate program that has adopted and adheres to the guidelines established by the Judicial Council and which has been designated by the local presiding juvenile court judge to recruit, screen, select, train, supervise, and support lay volunteers to be appointed by the court to help define the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency and wardship proceedings. For purposes of this section, there shall be only one designated CASA program in each California county. |
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| 60 | 60 | | 11105.04. (a) A designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program may submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information of employment and volunteer candidates for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and nature of any a record of child abuse investigations contained in the Child Abuse Central Index, state- or federal-level convictions, or state- or federal-level arrests for which the department establishes that the applicant was released on bail or on his or her their own recognizance pending trial. Requests A request for federal-level criminal offender record information received by the department pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department. |
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| 62 | 62 | | (b) When requesting state-level criminal offender record information pursuant to this section, the designated CASA program shall request a subsequent arrest notification, pursuant to Section 11105.2, for all employment and volunteer candidates. |
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| 64 | 64 | | (c) The department shall monitor the Child Abuse Central Index and notify the CASA program if a record of a child abuse investigation involving a CASA employee or volunteer is subsequently added to the Child Abuse Central Index. |
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| 66 | 66 | | (c) |
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| 70 | 70 | | (d) The department shall respond to the designated CASA program with information as delineated in subdivision (p) of Section 11105. |
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| 72 | 72 | | (d) |
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| 76 | 76 | | (e) (1) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests for federal-level criminal offender record information. |
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| 78 | 78 | | (2) The department shall not charge a fee for state-level criminal offender record information. |
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| 80 | 80 | | (3) The department may increase its fee for a CASA employment and volunteer candidate sufficient to cover the cost of processing subsequent notifications of child abuse investigations from the Child Abuse Central Index. |
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| 82 | 82 | | (e) |
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| 86 | 86 | | (f) For purposes of this section, a designated CASA program is a local court-appointed special advocate program that has adopted and adheres to the guidelines established by the Judicial Council and which has been designated by the local presiding juvenile court judge to recruit, screen, select, train, supervise, and support lay volunteers to be appointed by the court to help define the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency and wardship proceedings. For purposes of this section, there shall be only one designated CASA program in each California county. |
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