Bill Text: CA SB1304 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 1304 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Rural crimes prevention program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-05 - Referred to Com. on PUB. S. [SB1304 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB1304-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1304

Introduced by Senator Hurtado

February 21, 2020

An act to amend Section 14171 of the Penal Code, relating to rural crimes.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1304, as introduced, Hurtado. Rural crimes prevention program.

Existing law authorizes the Counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare to develop a Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Program, administered by the county district attorney’s office or the county sheriff’s department of each respective county under a joint powers agreement, as specified. Existing law requires, in order to receive funds for the program, each designated county agree to participate in a regional task force, known as the Central Valley Rural Crime Task Force. Existing law authorizes the Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Task Force to develop a uniform procedure for all participating counties to collect, and authorizes each county to collect, data on agricultural crimes. Existing law authorizes the staff of each program to consist of personnel designated by the district attorney and sheriff for each county in accordance with the joint powers agreement.

This bill would authorize the Central Valley Rural Crime Task force to submit a report to the Attorney General every 2 years on the data collected on agricultural crimes. The bill would authorize the staff for each program to also consist of community leaders, representatives from related organizations, and stakeholders.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 14171 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

14171.

(a) Each of the Counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare may develop within its respective jurisdiction a Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Program, which shall be administered by the county district attorney’s office or the county sheriff’s department of each respective county under a joint powers agreement entered into pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(b) The parties to each agreement shall form a regional task force that shall be known as the Central Valley Rural Crime Task Force, that may include the respective county office of the county agricultural commissioner, the county district attorney, the county sheriff, and interested property owner groups or associations. The task force shall be an interactive team working together to develop crime prevention, problem solving, and crime control techniques, to encourage timely reporting of crimes, and to evaluate the results of these activities. The task force may operate from a joint facility in order to facilitate investigative coordination. The task force may also consult with experts from the United States military, the California Military Department, the Department of Justice, other law enforcement entities, and various other state and private organizations as deemed necessary to maximize the effectiveness of this program. Media and community support may be solicited to promote this program. Each of the participating designated counties shall adopt rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of this program.

(1) In order to receive funds for this program, each designated county shall agree to participate in a regional task force, to be known as the Central Valley Rural Crime Task Force, and shall appoint a representative to that task force.

(2) The Central Valley Rural Crime Task Force may develop rural crime prevention programs containing a system for reporting rural crimes that enables the swift recovery of stolen goods and the apprehension of criminal suspects for prosecution. The task force may develop computer software and use communication technology to implement the reporting system, although the task force is not limited to the use of these means to achieve the stated goals.

(3) The Central Valley Rural Crime Task Force may develop a uniform procedure for all participating counties to collect, and each participating county may collect, data on agricultural ~~crimes.~~ crimes and submit a report to the Attorney General every two years. The task force may also establish a central database for the collection and maintenance of data on agricultural crimes and designate one participating county to maintain the database. State funds the counties receive to operate their rural crime prevention programs may be used to implement the requirements of this paragraph. This paragraph does not prohibit counties from using their own funds to implement the paragraph’s provisions, however, it is the Legislature’s intent that this paragraph shall not be construed as creating a state-mandated local program.

(c) The staff for each program may consist of the personnel designated by the district attorney and sheriff for each ~~county in accordance with the joint powers agreement.~~ county, community leaders, representatives from related organizations, and stakeholders.