Legislation will Reprioritize State Penalty Assessments to Support Law Enforcement and Crime Victims.

Senator George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) and Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) are authoring legislation to direct more of the state’s penalty assessment funds to services that help law enforcement and crime victims.  This legislation unanimously passed Senate Public Safety Committee yesterday.

“One of the most important roles in government is public safety.  It is important that we support crime victims and law enforcement and this bill will do just that,” said Runner.

The fines, penalties, and forfeitures that are imposed and collected by the courts for criminal offenses are currently being distributed to different state funds. Senate Bill 153 will better direct these state penalty assessment funds to purposes more closely related to their collection.  Specifically, SB 153 will:

Increase the amount of assessments to Peace Officers’ Training by almost 10%.

Increase the amount of assessments to Victim and Witness Assistance by 6%.

Increase the amount of assessments to Public Prosecutors and Public Defenders Training by .5%.

Start directing 2% of assessments to the Witness Protection Program.

Start directing 2% of assessments to the Victim Trauma Recovery Program.

Start directing 4.97% of assessments to Child Advocacy Centers.

Runner said, “This legislation will more closely align the state’s penalty assessment funds to services that will more directly help law enforcement and crime victims.”  

SB 153 was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee by a 4-0 vote.  It is sponsored by the California District Attorneys Association and supported by Crime Victims United of California.