Administration of Justice 08/30/2013
Prison Overcrowding
SB 105 (Emmerson) – Support
As amended August 29, 2013
SB 105, by Senator Bill Emmerson, contains provisions that carry out the Administration’s plan to comply with the federal court order regarding the state’s prison population levels. In addition to offering an immediate and tangible solution that avoids a release of state prison inmates, the bill sets the course for thoughtful consideration of longer-term solutions with the input of key policy makers and stakeholders. CSAC, the sheriffs, probation chiefs, district attorneys and other key law enforcement groups support the measure.
SB 105 offers a responsible and structured solution for the near-term by authorizing additional in- and out-of-state capacity that will bring the state in compliance with the court-ordered population threshold by December 31, 2013. CSAC agrees that a long-term plan is needed to ensure stability and to sustain improved outcomes across the criminal justice continuum, and we are committed to working with the Legislature and Governor to achieve those mutual goals.
Counties continue to responsibly implement far-reaching public safety reforms implemented less than two years ago. The plan contained in SB 105 will preserve ongoing efforts to further develop community corrections practices and to manage new offender populations at the local level, while providing a safe yet temporary solution necessitated by the court’s order.
For these reasons, we fully support SB 105 and urge counties to communicate with their legislative delegations about this bill.
Electronic Filing of Statements of Economic Interest
AB 409 (Quirk-Silva) – Watch
As amended August 29, 2013
AB 409, by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva, would enact a framework to permit the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to establish an online filing system for statements of economic interest. The measure does not specify a timeframe for implementation, but requires the FPPC to conduct public hearings and solicit input about the implementation of the online system.
The most recent version of AB 409 reflects the substantive input of county clerks and elections officials. These amendments are intended to clarify roles and responsibilities to ensure a smooth and orderly transition to an online filing system and to ensure that implementation of a statewide online filing system contemplates necessary and ongoing coordination and communication with local filing officers. The bill would permit the FPPC to take a category of filers from a filing officer only if the officer authorizes the Commission to do so.
AB 409 is in its second reading in the Senate. Because the bill amends the Political Reform Act, it must be in print for 12 days before the Senate can act on it. It then would move to the Assembly for policy and fiscal review.
Identity Theft
AB 1149 (Campos) - Oppose
As Introduced on January 10, 2013
AB 1149, by Assembly Member Nora Campos, would require local agencies to notify consumers of a breach if unauthorized persons access specified personal information. CSAC – as part of a broad coalition of public agency advocacy groups – is in opposition to the bill for fiscal and operational reasons. AB 1149 is similar to AB 2455, also authored by Assembly Member Campos in 2012. That measure did not advance past the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
As detailed in previous Bulletins, public agency groups do not oppose the policy objective being advanced in AB 1149. It is merely a question of resources and concern over the precedent that local governments – after some 35 years of being expressly exempt from its provisions – would be subject to a portion of the Information Practices Act.
AB 1149 was heard as part of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s suspense file today, and passed.
September 6 Webinar on Community Transition for Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders
On Friday, September 6, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is hosting a webinar from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. to introduce ”Guidelines for Care for Transitioning from Jails and Prisons for Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders.” Developed in collaboration with the Council of State Governments Justice Center with support from the SAMHSA and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the guidelines promote the behavioral health and criminal justice partnerships necessary to support successful community reintegration. The guidelines cover successful approaches to identifying which persons need services, what services they need, and how to match these needs upon transition to community-based treatment and supervision.
Webinar presenters include: Henry J. Steadman, PhD, President, Policy Research Associates; Fred C. Osher, MD, Director, Director, Health Services and Systems Policy, Council of State Governments Justice Center; and Steve Allen, MSSW, Executive Director, DHS Direct Care at State of Minnesota. A summary document will be available following the webinar and the full document will be released at the end of September.
To join the webinar, participants must call in (for audio) AND link to the online meeting, detailed below.
Audio: Dial (888) 469-3048 and enter “CARE” as passcode
On-line meeting log-in: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/; conference
number: PW6604477; audience passcode: CARE