SB 78

  • California Senate Bill
  • 2023-2024 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Senate Jan 12, 2023
  • Passed Senate May 04, 2023
  • Passed Assembly Aug 31, 2023
  • Became Law Oct 10, 2023

Criminal procedure: factual innocence.

Abstract

Existing law authorizes a person who is unlawfully imprisoned under specified circumstances, including, without limitation, conviction on the basis of false evidence or the existence of new exculpatory evidence, to prosecute a writ of habeas corpus ordering their release. Existing law also authorizes such a person who is no longer in custody to prosecute a motion to vacate a judgment. Under existing law, if the district attorney stipulates to or does not contest the factual allegations underlying the application for the writ or motion, the district attorney is required to provide notice to the Attorney General. This bill would require that notice to be given no less than 7 days before entering a stipulation. Under existing law, if a writ of habeas corpus or motion to vacate a judgment is granted for specified reasons, the petitioner may move for a finding of factual innocence by a preponderance of the evidence for the purpose of obtaining compensation for the pecuniary injury sustained through the erroneous conviction and incarceration. This bill would authorize a person, if the court has granted specified writs of habeas corpus and the charges were subsequently dismissed, or the person was acquitted of the charges on a retrial, to move the court for a finding that they are entitled to compensation. The bill would require the court to grant that motion unless the district attorney can establish by clear and convincing evidence that the person committed the acts constituting the offense and is therefore not entitled to compensation, as specified. Existing law requires the California Victim Compensation Board to recommend to the Legislature that an appropriation be made and a claim paid, as specified, to a person who has secured a declaration of factual innocence from the court and has applied to the board for compensation, as specified. This bill would instead require the board to approve payment to the person if sufficient funds are available and funds are appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose. Existing law requires the board to calculate the compensation for injury sustained because of erroneous conviction and imprisonment based on factual innocence and approve payment to a claimant, as specified, within 30 days of the presentation of the claim to the board, if sufficient funds are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature. This bill would instead require the calculation within 90 days of the filing of the claim. The bill would authorize the board, prior to approving payment, to request from both parties additional documents or arguments as needed to calculate compensation. The bill would make other conforming changes.

Bill Sponsors (4)

Votes


Actions


Oct 10, 2023

California State Legislature

Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 702, Statutes of 2023.

California State Legislature

Approved by the Governor.

Sep 13, 2023

California State Legislature

Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

Sep 07, 2023

Senate

Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2477.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

Sep 05, 2023

Senate

Ordered to special consent calendar.

Aug 31, 2023

Senate

In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

Assembly

Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2865.) Ordered to the Senate.

Aug 24, 2023

Assembly

Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

Aug 23, 2023

Assembly

From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 23).

Jun 13, 2023

Assembly

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Jun 06, 2023

Assembly

From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  • Amendment-Passage
  • Committee-Passage
  • Reading-1
  • Reading-2
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on PUB. S.

May 11, 2023

Assembly

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on PUB. S.

May 04, 2023

Assembly

In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

Senate

Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 1003.) Ordered to the Assembly.

May 02, 2023

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

May 01, 2023

Senate

From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.

Apr 21, 2023

Senate

Set for hearing May 1.

Apr 19, 2023

Senate

April 24 hearing postponed by committee.

Apr 14, 2023

Senate

Set for hearing April 24.

Apr 05, 2023

Senate

April 10 hearing postponed by committee.

Apr 03, 2023

Senate

Set for hearing April 10.

Mar 29, 2023

Senate

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 578.) (March 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Mar 01, 2023

Senate

Set for hearing March 28.

Jan 25, 2023

Senate

Referred to Com. on PUB S.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on PUB S.

Jan 13, 2023

Senate

From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 12.

Jan 12, 2023

Senate

Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
SB78 HTML
01/12/23 - Introduced PDF
06/06/23 - Amended Assembly PDF
09/11/23 - Enrolled PDF
10/10/23 - Chaptered PDF

Related Documents

Document Format
03/24/23- Senate Public Safety PDF
05/03/23- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF
06/12/23- Assembly Public Safety PDF
08/21/23- Assembly Appropriations PDF
08/31/23- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF

Sources

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