Report 2021-113 Recommendation Responses
Report 2021-113: Batterer Intervention Programs: State Guidance and Oversight Are Needed to Effectively Reduce Domestic Violence (Release Date: October 2022)
Recommendation for Legislative Action
To ensure that offenders have sufficient information when choosing a program provider, the Legislature should require program providers to publicly post a comprehensive description of their sliding fee scales, and it should require the courts to provide each offender with a selection of available program providers, including their standard fees and sliding fee scales, before the offender agrees to the conditions of probation. Further, the Legislature should require the courts to inform offenders of the availability of fee waivers for those who may not have the ability to pay for the program.
Description of Legislative Action
AB 304 (Holden, 2023) would require program providers to publicly post, including on an internet website, a comprehensive description of their sliding fee scales. The bill would require the court to inform the defendant of the availability of a program fee waiver, if they do not have the ability to pay for the program, and to provide each defendant with a selection of available program providers and those providers' standard fees and sliding fee scales upon the defendant's request. As of April 14, 2023, this bill is pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: April 2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced
Description of Legislative Action
The Legislature did not take action during the 2021-2022 Legislative Session to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: January 2023