Bill Text: CA SB556 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Victims of crime: indemnification: applications.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Assembly without further action. [SB556 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB556-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 556	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 4, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 6, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator De León

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to amend Section 13958 of the Government Code, relating to
victims of crime.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 556, as amended, De León. Victims of crime: indemnification:
applications.
   Existing law provides for the indemnification of victims of
specified types of crimes by the California Victim Compensation and
Government Claims Board, subject to specified criteria for, among
other things, submission and verification of applications. Existing
law requires the board to approve or deny applications, based on
recommendations of the board staff, within an average of 90 calendar
days and no later than 180 calendar days of acceptance by the board
or victim center. Existing law requires the board to report to the
Legislature, on a quarterly basis, its progress and its current
average time of processing applications if the board does not meet
the prescribed 90-day average standard.
   This bill would define "time of processing applications" for
purposes of these provisions and would require the board to post on
its Internet Web site, on an annual basis, its progress and current
average time of processing  applications.  
applications, the number of applications approved, the number of
applications denied, and the number of incomplete applications
received. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 13958 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   13958.  (a) The board shall approve or deny applications, based on
recommendations of the board staff, within an average of 90 calendar
days and no later than 180 calendar days of acceptance by the board
or victim center.
   (1) If the board does not meet the 90-day average standard
prescribed in this subdivision, the board shall, thereafter, report
to the Legislature, on a quarterly basis, its progress and its
current average time of processing applications. These quarterly
reports shall continue until the board meets the 90-day average
standard for two consecutive quarters.
   (2) If the board fails to approve or deny an individual
application within 180 days of the date it is accepted, pursuant to
this subdivision, the board shall advise the applicant and his or her
representative, in writing, of the reason for the failure to approve
or deny the application.
   (b) The board shall post on its Internet Web site, on an annual
basis, its progress and current average time of processing 
applications.   applications, the number of applications
approved, the number of applications denied, and the number of
incomplete applications received. 
   (c) For purposes of this section, "time of processing applications"
means the period of time, including all calendar days, that begins
when the board first receives  and   an 
application and ends when  a check is mailed to an eligible
victim.   a determination is made to approve or deny the
application and notice of that determination is sent to the
applicant.