Administration of Justice Bills and News Briefs
March 16, 2017
Smart Pretrial Competitive Solicitation for Technical Assistance
The Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) are partnering to support the implementation of new policies and practices that enhance the quality of the local pretrial justice system through the Smart Pretrial initiative. The goal of this Smart Pretrial Initiative is to provide technical assistance to up to five local jurisdictions in implementing practices consistent with legal and evidence-based pretrial practices. This solicitation offers six technical assistance categories:
1. Containing the Costs of the Criminal Justice System
2. Procedural Justice at First Sight
3. Detention Hearings
4. Minimizing Technical Violations and Re-Admission
5. Enhancing and Ensuring Racial and Ethnic Equality
6. Community Participation in Public Safety
All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, April 21, 2017. Decisions about the award are expected to be made by June 2, 2017. For additional information please see click here.
BSCC Holds Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Pilot Program ESC Meeting
The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Pilot Program Executive Steering Committee (ESC) will meet on March 22 from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm at BSCC headquarters in Sacramento. Agenda topics cover the program rating review process, a review of proposal sores and funding recommendations. For a copy of the agenda and additional details please click here.
The following Administration of Justice bills reflect CSAC’s advocacy efforts for the 2017 legislative session. For the latest bill status, please visit www.counties.org/legislative-tracking.
State Remote Piloted Aircraft Act.
SB 347 (Jackson) – Support
As Introduced February 14, 2017
SB 347 by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson would establish a regulatory framework for unmanned aircraft technology and operations in California; set comprehensive drone regulations that provide a balance between protecting public safety and privacy, and encouraging innovation and technology; and protect local and state regulating authority for remotely piloted aircrafts or unmanned aircraft systems as long as the ordinances are consistent with the State Remote Piloted Aircraft Act. SB 347 is set to be heard in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on April 4th.
Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Multidisciplinary
Teams.
AB 704 (Grayson) – Support
As Introduced February 25, 2017
AB 704 by Assembly Member Timothy Grayson would authorize a county to establish domestic violence and human trafficking multidisciplinary teams. Specifically, AB 704 would allow agencies to share confidential information in order to investigate reports of suspected crimes. Additionally, this measure would authorize members of the multidisciplinary personnel teams to disclose to one another information and records that are relevant to the prevention, identification, and/or treatment of domestic violence and human trafficking crimes. AB 704 is set to be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee on March 21st.
Vehicles: Violations.
Sex offenders: registration: criminal offender record
information systems.
SB 695 (Lara) – Support
As Introduced February 17, 2017
SB 695 by Senator Ricardo Lara would establish a three-tiered sex offender registration system. Specifically, this bill would establish 3 tiers of sex offender registration base on specified criteria, for periods of at least 10 years (tier one), 20 years (tier two) and life (tier 3). Additionally the bill would establish procedures for a registered sex offender who is a tier one or tier two offender and who completes his or her mandated minimum registration period. California has are over 100,000 registered sex offenders and is in need of a registry system reform that focuses on high risk and violent sex offenders. By implementing a tiered sex offender registry system, SB 695 would be a proactive public safety policy that allows law enforcement agencies to concentrate their investigative efforts on making sure high risk and violent offenders comply with the law. SB 695 is set to be heard in the Senate Public Safety Committee on April 18th.
SB 185 (Hertzberg) – Oppose
As Introduced January 25, 2017
SB 185 by Senator Bob Hertzberg would prohibit license suspensions for failure to pay or appear in court for minor traffic tickets. Specifically, SB 185 would require courts to reinstate suspended licenses for anyone making a good-faith effort to meet their obligations. Additionally, this measure would require courts to: provide affordable payment plans, assess an individual’s ability to pay, reduce the total amount owed by low-income individuals, change payment plans according to an individual’s changing economic circumstances and eliminate debt after 4 years for low-income individuals who have exhibited a continuous inability to pay. CSAC has serious concerns with the approach of SB 185, which does not address the complexity of the current collections system, but instead takes away a tool the courts and county collection agencies use to collect the fines and fees they are mandated by law to collect. SB 185 is set to be heard in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on April 4th.
