Amended  IN  Assembly  March 25, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1233

Introduced by Assembly Member Waldron

February 19, 2021

An act to add Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 7450) to Title 7 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, relating to state prisons.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1233, as amended, Waldron. State prisons. prisons: construction and renovation.
Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to prepare plans for, and construct facilities and renovations included within, its master plan for which funds have been appropriated by the Legislature. Existing law also establishes the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board to regularly examine the various mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for inmates and parolees operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature with respect to modifications, additions, and eliminations of rehabilitation and treatment programs.
This bill would establish the Prison Oversight Commission and require the commission to develop guidelines for the construction of new prisons and renovation of existing prisons. The bill would require the commission, in developing the guidelines, to, among other things, consider how the guidelines will impact the provision of various services that may lead to the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of a prisoner. The bill would require construction of a new prison or renovation of an existing prison to be completed in accordance with those guidelines and would require the commission to oversee planning for the construction or renovation of a prison to ensure that it will be completed in accordance with those guidelines.

Existing law establishes various state prisons under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would address corrections.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 7450) is added to Title 7 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, to read:
CHAPTER  18. Prison Construction and Renovation

7450.
 (a) The Prison Oversight Commission is hereby established to do both of the following:
(1) Develop guidelines for the construction of new prisons and the renovation of existing prisons. The guidelines shall be based on the latest data, technology, and examples of successful programs from around the world that have reduced recidivism rates. In developing the guidelines, the commission shall do both of the following:
(A) Emphasize rehabilitation, emotional stability, equity, and hope.
(B) Consider how the guidelines will impact the provision of wraparound services, accessible health care, mental health services, counseling, job skills training, apprenticeship training, education, life skills training, childcare, enhanced visitation, transitional housing, and other services that may lead to the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of a prisoner.
(2) Oversee planning for the construction or renovation of a prison to ensure the construction or renovation will be completed in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b) Construction of a new prison or renovation of an existing prison shall be completed in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would address corrections.