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<ns0:Id>20250AB__221799INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Zbur</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Zbur</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Sections 1001.85, 1001.86, 1001.87, and 1001.88 of, and to repeal and add the heading of Chapter 2.92 (commencing with Section 1001.85) of, Title 6 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>criminal procedure</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Criminal procedure: alternatives to arrest.</ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>Existing law establishes the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) pilot program, which is administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections, to improve public safety and reduce recidivism by increasing the availability and use of social service resources while reducing costs to law enforcement agencies and courts stemming from repeated incarceration. Existing law requires the board to award grants, on a competitive basis, to up to 3 jurisdictions to establish LEAD programs and requires the board to establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would rename the program as the Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) pilot program. The bill would require the board to additionally award a grant to the public health agency administering qualifying programs in the City of Los Angeles and the County of
Los Angeles, as well as in up to 3 jurisdictions.</html:p>
<html:p>Existing law allows a person to be referred to services through a program by a law enforcement officer as an alternative to arrest, and through a social contact referral by a law enforcement officer if they believe the person is at high risk of arrest in the future for specified crimes relating to controlled substances and prostitution. Existing law requires those social contact referrals to meet specified criteria, including, among other things, verification that the individual has had prior involvement with low-level drug or prostitution activity and that the individual does not have a pending case in drug court or mental health court.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would remove these requirements for social contact referrals and instead authorize them if the officer believes the person would benefit from case management services and is at high risk of arrest in the future. The bill would
expand the offenses eligible for referral to include, among other things, specified disorderly conduct crimes, shoplifting, or other violations identified by the local jurisdiction with agreement of the police chief or sheriff and the implementing public health or behavioral health agency administering case management services.</html:p>
<html:p>Existing law requires the Board of State and Community Corrections to contract with a nonprofit research entity, university, or college to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the board to contract with experts for the purpose of providing technical assistance to participating jurisdictions. Existing law appropriated $15,000,000 from the General Fund for the program, and authorized the board to spend up to $550,000 for the purposes of the evaluation contract and technical assistance.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would repeal those provisions, and would require, upon
appropriation by the Legislature for these programs, that the funds be granted to the entity responsible for Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion in the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles and public health or behavioral health agencies in jurisdictions to be identified by the board. The bill would additionally authorize the board to spend a portion of those funds on contracts with experts on the implementation of ATA or similar programs in other jurisdictions for the purpose of providing technical assistance to participating jurisdictions. The bill would require the board to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the program on or before January 1, 2031.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_4343E43F-0A52-45BD-B724-FCFCD0BA789F">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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The heading of Chapter 2.92 (commencing with Section 1001.85) of Title 6 of Part 2 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is repealed.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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The heading of Chapter 2.92 (commencing with Section 1001.85) is added to Title 6 of Part 2 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading type="CHAPTER" id="id_78952D35-E6C9-4B51-82AF-7ABFC10B34C4">
<ns0:Num>2.92.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawHeadingVersion id="id_BB5E04FA-2B00-4305-B2FA-4F38F0931BAE">
<ns0:LawHeadingText>Alternatives to Arrest Programs</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1001.85 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_D43C054F-F4FE-49E7-8C69-54C316978B3F">
<ns0:Num>1001.85.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) pilot program is hereby established, as the successor to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion pilot program. The purpose of the
ATA programs in California is to improve public safety and reduce recidivism by increasing the availability and use of social service resources while reducing costs to law enforcement agencies and courts stemming from repeated incarceration.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
ATA programs shall be consistent with the following principles, implemented to address and reflect the priorities of the community in which the program exists:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Providing intensive case management services and an individually tailored intervention plan that acts as a blueprint for assisting LEAD participants.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Prioritizing temporary and permanent housing that includes individualized supportive services, without preconditions of drug or alcohol treatment or abstinence from drugs or alcohol.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Employing human and social service resources that prioritize addressing
unmanaged mental illness and substance use, and navigate people into stable housing, as needed, in a manner that improves individual outcomes and community safety, and promotes community wellness.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Participation in LEAD services shall be voluntary throughout the duration of the program and shall not require abstinence from drug or alcohol use as a condition of continued participation.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 4.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1001.86 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_DDD3DEBA-3407-4F2A-8CC0-184ED8236E52">
<ns0:Num>1001.86.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) program shall be administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The board shall award a grant to the public health agency administering qualifying programs in the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles, as well as grants, on a competitive basis, to up to three jurisdictions as authorized by this chapter. The board shall establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding
grants, which shall take into consideration, but not be limited to, all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Information from the applicant demonstrating a clear understanding of the program’s purpose and the applicant’s willingness and ability to implement the ATA program as described in this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Key local partners who would be committed to, and involved in, the development and successful implementation of an ATA program, including, but not limited to,
leadership by a public health or behavioral health agency, balanced representation from law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial agencies, public defenders and defense counsel, public health and social services agencies, case management service providers, and any other entities identified by the applicant as integral to the successful implementation of an ATA program in the jurisdiction.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The jurisdiction’s capacity and commitment to coordinate public health, social services, law enforcement efforts, and justice system decisionmaking processes, and to work to ensure that the discretionary decisions made
by each participant in the administration of the program operates in a manner consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Successful grant applicants shall collect and maintain data pertaining to the effectiveness of the program as indicated by the board in the request for proposals.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 5.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1001.87 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_3B67E74D-ABD6-43E1-8D28-77E99A1AE9EE">
<ns0:Num>1001.87.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_F2C1D8C5-D5AC-45FF-B564-8C5211D17E01">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) programs funded pursuant to this chapter shall consist of a strategy of effective intervention for eligible participants consistent with the following gateways to services:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Prebooking referral. As an alternative to arrest, a law enforcement officer may take or refer a person for whom the officer has probable cause for arrest for any of the offenses in subdivision (b) to a case manager to be screened for immediate crisis services and to schedule a complete assessment intake interview. Participation in
ATA programming shall be voluntary, and the person may decline to participate in the program at any time. Criminal charges based on the conduct for which a person is diverted to ATA shall not be filed, provided that the person finishes the complete assessment intake interview within a period set by the local jurisdictional partners, but not to exceed 30 days after the referral.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Social contact referral. A law enforcement officer may refer an individual to ATA whom they believe would benefit from case management
services and is at high risk of arrest in the future. ATA may accept these referrals if the program has capacity after responding to prebooking diversion referrals described in paragraph (1).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The following offenses are eligible for either prebooking diversion, social contact referral, or both:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Possession for sale or transfer of a controlled substance or other prohibited substance where the circumstances indicate that the sale or transfer is intended to provide a subsistence living or to allow the person to obtain or afford drugs for their own consumption.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Sale or transfer of a controlled substance or other prohibited substance where the circumstances indicate that the sale or transfer is intended to provide a subsistence living or to allow the person to obtain or afford drugs for
their own consumption.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Possession of a controlled substance, a prohibited substance, or drug paraphernalia.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Being under the influence of a controlled substance or other prohibited substance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Being under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance or other prohibited substance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Misdemeanor disorderly conduct pursuant to subdivisions (a), (c),(d), (e), (f), and (h), and paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), of Section 647.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Shoplifting or petty theft.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(8)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Misdemeanor trespass.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(9)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Burglary in the second degree.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(10)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Other violations identified by the local jurisdiction with agreement of the police chief or sheriff, as applicable, and the implementing public health or behavioral health agency administering case management services.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 6.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1001.88 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_0B3AA04C-7299-45AD-B84B-99210ED31123">
<ns0:Num>1001.88.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Services provided pursuant to this chapter may include, but are not limited to, case management, housing, medical care, mental health care, treatment for alcohol or substance use disorders, nutritional counseling and treatment, psychological counseling, employment, employment training and education, civil legal services, and system navigation. Grant funding may be used to support any of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Project management and community engagement.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Temporary services and treatment necessary to stabilize a participant’s condition, including necessary housing.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Outreach and direct service costs for services described in this
section.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Civil legal services for
Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) participants.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Dedicated prosecutorial resources, including for coordinating any nondiverted criminal cases of ATA participants.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Dedicated law enforcement resources, including for overtime required for participation in operational meetings and training.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Training and technical assistance from experts in the implementation of ATA, similar, or complementary programs, including
experts from
other jurisdictions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(8)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Collecting and maintaining the data necessary for program evaluation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The board shall, on or before January 1, 2031, submit a report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the ATA program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Upon appropriation by the Legislature, funds appropriated for the purposes of this chapter shall be granted to the entity responsible for Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) in the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles for the continuation and expansion of LEAD in those jurisdictions and to public health or behavioral health agencies in jurisdictions to be identified by the board to implement ATA. The board may
additionally spend a portion of the funds appropriated for contracts with experts on the implementation and evaluation of ATA or similar programs in other jurisdictions for the purpose of providing technical assistance to participating jurisdictions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Local jurisdictions shall commit to using these funds and local resources to support ATA or Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion services for not less than four years after receiving their grant.
</html:p>
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