The Commission supported 10 bills that would implement its recommendations and evaluated five reorganization plans during the 2005-06 Legislative Session. The measures were in the areas of corrections, sentencing and parole; the State Allocation Board; disaster preparedness and public health; and alcohol and drug abuse. Of those 10 bills, three were signed into law, one was vetoed and six failed to pass.
Corrections, Sentencing and Parole
AB 76 (Lieber) Corrections: female inmates.
Summary: Requires CDCR to undertake various tasks related to female offenders, including creating a Female Offender Reform Master Plan and creating policies and practices designed to ensure a safe and productive institutional environment for female offenders.
Final Action: Signed by Governor, Chapter 706, Statutes of 2007.
AB 77 (Lieber) Parole reform.
Summary: Requires the Secretary of CDCR to appoint a working group to develop an action plan for reforming the parole system.
Final Action: Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 1049 (Solorio) Parole: reentry programs.
Summary: Requires CDCR to establish a re-entry program for parolees between 16 and 23 years of age in various cities to assist in community reintegration upon discharge from detention, as specified; re-entry programs would include construction training, academic services, counseling and tracking of graduates after completion of the program.
Final Action: Vetoed on 10/14/08.
SB 110 (Romero) Sentencing commission.
Summary: Creates the California Sentencing Commission to develop and implement a new sentencing system; provides for the appointment of an executive director and hiring of necessary staff.
Final Action: Held on Assembly Floor.
State Allocation Board
SB 1552 (Margett) State Allocation Board: Office of Public School Construction.
Summary: Revises and recasts numerous provisions relating to the State Allocation Board, including among others, the gubernatorial appointee to the board would be required to have expertise in construction issues, preferably relating to the construction of public elementary or secondary schools.
Final Action: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Disaster Preparedness and Public Health
AB 38 (Nava) State agencies: California Emergency Management Agency.
Summary: Merges the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Homeland Security to create the California Emergency Management Agency, in the Office of the Governor, responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security activities.
Final Action: Signed by Governor, Chapter 372, Statutes of 2008.
AB 1930 (Torrico) Emergency services: populations with limited English proficiency.
Summary: Improves plans for emergency preparedness, response and recovery for populations who have limited proficiency in the English language.
Final Action: Held in Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB 1058 (Alquist) Health facilities: bacterial infections.
Summary: Establishes the Medical Facility Infection Control and Prevention Act, which requires general acute care hospitals to implement certain procedures for screening, prevention and reporting of specified health care associated infections.
Final Action: Signed by Governor, Chapter 296, Statutes of 2008.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
AB 2124 (Beall) Medi-Cal: alcohol and drug screening and brief intervention services.
Summary: Establishes the Medi-Cal Alcohol and Drug Screening and Brief Intervention Services Program, to be administered by the Department of Health Services and the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Progams.
Final Action: Held in Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 2129 (Beall) Maternal health: alcohol and substance abuse screening and treatment.
Summary: Requires the State Department of Public Health to develop, coordinate and oversee the implementation of a universal screening program for pregnant women and women of childbearing age who are suffering from alcohol and drug abuse.
Final Action: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.