SB759 - Crimes: supervised release.

Amended IN Senate May 23, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 759 Introduced by Senator Archuleta February 21, 2025 An act to amend Sections 3003, 3454, and Section 3455 of the Penal Code, relating to supervised release. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 759, as amended, Archuleta. Crimes: supervised release. (1) Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide specified information to local law enforcement agencies regarding an inmate released by the department to the agency’s jurisdiction on parole or postrelease community supervision, including a record of the offense for which the inmate was convicted that resulted in parole or postrelease community supervision. This bill would require the department to also provide the local law enforcement agency with copies of the record of supervision during any prior period of parole. (2) Existing law requires the department to be the agency primarily responsible for the Law Enforcement Automated Data System and requires county agencies supervising inmates released from prison on postrelease community supervision to provide any information requested by the department to ensure the availability of accurate information regarding inmates released from state prison. Under existing law, this information may include the issuance of warrants, revocations, or the termination of postrelease community supervision. This bill would require the county to provide the department, upon request, with all records of supervision. By imposing additional duties on county agencies administering postrelease community supervision, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing Existing law requires the county agency supervising the release of a person on postrelease community supervision to petition a court to revoke, modify, or terminate postrelease community supervision if the agency determines, following application of its assessment processes, that intermediate sanctions are not appropriate. This bill would require the county agency supervising the release of a person on postrelease community supervision to also petition a court to revoke, modify, or terminate postrelease community supervision if the person has violated the terms of their release for a 3rd time and the person has committed a new felony or misdemeanor. The bill would allow a peace officer to arrest a person without warrant who fails to appear at a hearing to revoke, modify, or terminate postrelease community supervision. By imposing additional duties on county agencies administering postrelease community supervision, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (4) Existing law allows each county agency responsible for postrelease supervision to determine appropriate responses to alleged violations, which can include a one to 10 consecutive day period of one to 10 consecutive days of flash incarceration. This bill would require the probation department to notify the court, public defender, district attorney, and sheriff of each imposition of flash incarceration. By imposing additional duties on county agencies administering postrelease community supervision, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) The The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 3003 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 3003. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an inmate who is released on parole or postrelease community supervision as provided by Title 2.05 (commencing with Section 3450) shall be returned to the county that was the last legal residence of the inmate prior to the inmate’s incarceration. An inmate who is released on parole or postrelease community supervision as provided by Title 2.05 (commencing with Section 3450) and who was committed to prison for a sex offense for which registration is required pursuant to Section 290, shall, through all efforts reasonably possible, be returned to the city that was the last legal residence of the inmate prior to incarceration or a close geographic location in which the inmate has family, social ties, or economic ties and access to reentry services, unless return to that location would violate any other law or pose a risk to the inmate’s victim. For purposes of this subdivision, “last legal residence” shall not be construed to mean the county or city wherein the inmate committed an offense while confined in a state prison or local jail facility or while confined for treatment in a state hospital. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an inmate may be returned to another county or city if that would be in the best interests of the public. When setting conditions of parole, if the Board of Parole Hearings, upon granting parole to a person, or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation decides on a return to another county or city, it shall place its reasons in writing in the parolee’s permanent record and the reasons shall be included in the notice to the sheriff or chief of police pursuant to Section 3058.6. In making its decision, the paroling authority shall consider, among others, the following factors, giving the greatest weight to the protection of the victim and the safety of the community: (1) The need to protect the life or safety of a victim, the parolee, a witness, or any other person. (2) Public concern that would reduce the chance that the inmate’s parole would be successfully completed. (3) The verified existence of a work offer, or an educational or vocational training program chosen by the inmate in another county. (4) The existence of family in another county with whom the inmate has maintained strong ties and whose support would increase the chance that the inmate’s parole would be successfully completed. (5) The lack of necessary outpatient treatment programs for parolees receiving treatment pursuant to Section 2960 in the county of last legal residence. (6) The existence of a housing option in another county, including with a relative or acceptance into a transitional housing program of choice. (c) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in determining an out-of-county commitment pursuant to this section, shall give priority to the safety of the community and any witnesses and victims. (2) Absent evidence that parole transfer would present a threat to public safety, the inmate shall be released to the county in the location of a verified existence of a postsecondary educational or vocational training program of the inmate’s choice, or of a verified existence of a work offer, the inmate’s family, outpatient treatment, or housing. The burden of verifying the existence of an educational or vocational training program or a work offer shall be on the person on parole. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall complete the parole transfer process prior to release and ensure the person is released from prison directly to the county where the postsecondary educational or vocational training program chosen by the inmate, or the work offer, the inmate’s family, outpatient treatment, or housing is located. This paragraph shall not apply to placement and participation in a transitional housing program during the first year after release pursuant to a condition of parole imposed by the Board of Parole Hearings upon granting parole at a hearing conducted under Article 3 (commencing with Section 3040). (3) Absent evidence that travel outside of the county of commitment would present a threat to public safety, a person on parole shall be granted a permit to travel outside the county of commitment to a location where the person has postsecondary educational or vocational training program opportunities, including classes, conferences, or extracurricular educational activities, an employment opportunity, or inpatient or outpatient treatment. A parole agent shall provide a written response of their decision within 14 days after receiving the request for a travel permit. If the parole agent denies the request for an out-of-county travel permit, they shall include in writing the reasons the travel would present a threat to public safety. (4) Absent evidence that transfer to a county outside the county of commitment would present a threat to public safety, a person on parole shall be granted approval of an application to transfer residency and parole to another county where the person has a verified existence of a postsecondary educational or vocational training program chosen by the inmate, or a verified existence of a work offer, the person’s family, inpatient or outpatient treatment, or housing. The burden of verifying the existence of an educational or vocational training program or a work offer shall be on the person on parole. A parole agent shall provide a written response of their decision within 14 days after receiving the request for the transfer application. If the parole agent denies the application for a transfer of parole to another county, they shall include in writing the reasons the transfer would present a threat to public safety. This paragraph shall not apply to placement and participation in a transitional housing program during the first year after release pursuant to a condition of parole imposed by the Board of Parole Hearings upon granting parole at a hearing conducted under Article 3 (commencing with Section 3040). (5) The department and probation officers may extend paragraphs (2) through (4), inclusive, to individuals released on postrelease community supervision. The Legislature finds and declares that the department and probation officers are strongly encouraged to apply this paragraph to individuals released on postrelease community supervision. (d) In making its decision about an inmate who participated in a joint venture program pursuant to Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 2717.1) of Chapter 5, the paroling authority shall release the inmate to the county where the joint venture program employer is located if that employer states to the paroling authority that the employer intends to employ the inmate upon release. (e) (1) The following information, if available, shall be released by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to local law enforcement agencies regarding a paroled inmate or inmate placed on postrelease community supervision pursuant to Title 2.05 (commencing with Section 3450) who is released in their jurisdictions: (A) Last, first, and middle names. (B) Birth date. (C) Sex, race, height, weight, and hair and eye color. (D) Date of parole or placement on postrelease community supervision and discharge. (E) Registration status, if the inmate is required to register as a result of a controlled substance, sex, or arson offense. (F) California Criminal Information Number, FBI number, social security number, and driver’s license number. (G) County of commitment. (H) A description of scars, marks, and tattoos on the inmate. (I) Offense or offenses for which the inmate was convicted that resulted in parole or postrelease community supervision in this instance. (J) Address, including all of the following information: (i) Street name and number. Post office box numbers are not acceptable for purposes of this subparagraph. (ii) City and ZIP Code. (iii) Date that the address provided pursuant to this subparagraph was proposed to be effective. (K) Contact officer and unit, including all of the following information: (i) Name and telephone number of each contact officer. (ii) Contact unit type of each contact officer such as units responsible for parole, registration, or county probation. (L) A digitized image of the photograph and at least a single digit fingerprint of the parolee. (M) A geographic coordinate for the inmate’s residence location for use with a Geographical Information System (GIS) or comparable computer program. (N) Copies of the record of supervision during any prior period of parole. (2) Unless the information is unavailable, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall electronically transmit to the county agency identified in subdivision (a) of Section 3451 the inmate’s tuberculosis status, specific medical, mental health, and outpatient clinic needs, and any medical concerns or disabilities for the county to consider as the offender transitions onto postrelease community supervision pursuant to Section 3450, for the purpose of identifying the medical and mental health needs of the individual. All transmissions to the county agency shall be in compliance with applicable provisions of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (Public Law 104-191), the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) (Public Law 111-005), and the implementing of privacy and security regulations in Parts 160 and 164 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This paragraph shall not take effect until the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or the secretary’s designee, determines that this provision is not preempted by HIPAA. (3) Except for the information required by paragraph (2), the information required by this subdivision shall come from the statewide parolee database. The information obtained from each source shall be based on the same timeframe. (4) All of the information required by this subdivision shall be provided utilizing a computer-to-computer transfer in a format usable by a desktop computer system. The transfer of this information shall be continually available to local law enforcement agencies upon request. (5) The unauthorized release or receipt of the information described in this subdivision is a violation of Section 11143. (f) Notwithstanding any other law, if the victim or witness has requested additional distance in the placement of the inmate on parole, and if the Board of Parole Hearings or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation finds that there is a need to protect the life, safety, or well-being of the victim or witness, an inmate who is released on parole shall not be returned to a location within 35 miles of the actual residence of a victim of, or a witness to, any of the following crimes: (1) A violent felony as defined in paragraphs (1) to (7), inclusive, and paragraphs (11) and (16) of subdivision (c) of Section 667.5. (2) A felony in which the defendant inflicts great bodily injury on a person, other than an accomplice, that has been charged and proved as provided for in Section 12022.53, 12022.7, or 12022.9. (3) A vi [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]