Session:   

Bill

Home - Bills - Bill - Authors - Dates - Keywords - Tags - Locations

Measure AB 812
Authors Lowenthal   Elhawary  
Coauthors: Sharp-Collins  
Subject Recall and resentencing: incarcerated firefighters.
Relating To relating to criminal procedure.
Title An act to amend Section 1172.1 of the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure.
Last Action Dt 2025-10-13
State Chaptered
Status Chaptered
Active? Y
Vote Required Majority
Appropriation No
Fiscal Committee Yes
Local Program No
Substantive Changes None
Urgency No
Tax Levy No
Leginfo Link Bill
Actions
2025-10-13     Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 712, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-13     Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-22     Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-10     Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 57. Noes 5. Page 3215.).
2025-09-09     In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-09     Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 2655.).
2025-09-08     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-05     Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-09-02     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29     Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-08-29     From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-08-18     In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-10     Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-09     From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (July 8).
2025-06-18     Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-05     In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-04     Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 4. Page 2058.)
2025-05-27     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23     Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-05-23     From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).
2025-05-23     Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
2025-04-23     In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-03-28     Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-27     Read second time and amended.
2025-03-26     From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 25).
2025-03-03     Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-20     From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2025-02-19     Read first time. To print.
Keywords
Tags
Versions
Chaptered     2025-10-13
Enrolled     2025-09-12
Amended Senate     2025-09-05
Amended Senate     2025-08-29
Amended Senate     2025-07-10
Amended Assembly     2025-05-23
Amended Assembly     2025-03-27
Introduced     2025-02-19
Last Version Text
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<ns0:MeasureDoc xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:ns0="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1#" xmlns:ns3="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1# xca.1.xsd">
	


	<ns0:Description>
		<ns0:Id>20250AB__081292CHP</ns0:Id>
		<ns0:VersionNum>92</ns0:VersionNum>
		<ns0:History>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-03-27</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-05-23</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-07-10</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-08-29</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-09-05</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>PASSED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-09-10</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>PASSED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-09-09</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>ENROLLED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-09-12</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>CHAPTERED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-10-13</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>APPROVED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-10-13</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>FILED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-10-13</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
		</ns0:History>
		<ns0:LegislativeInfo>
			<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
			<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
			<ns0:MeasureType>AB</ns0:MeasureType>
			<ns0:MeasureNum>812</ns0:MeasureNum>
			<ns0:MeasureState>CHP</ns0:MeasureState>
			<ns0:ChapterYear>2025</ns0:ChapterYear>
			<ns0:ChapterType>CHP</ns0:ChapterType>
			<ns0:ChapterSessionNum>0</ns0:ChapterSessionNum>
			<ns0:ChapterNum>712</ns0:ChapterNum>
		</ns0:LegislativeInfo>
		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Members Lowenthal and Elhawary</ns0:AuthorText>
		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_ORIGINATING">(Coauthor: Assembly Member Sharp-Collins)</ns0:AuthorText>
		<ns0:Authors>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Lowenthal</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Elhawary</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Sharp-Collins</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
		</ns0:Authors>
		<ns0:Title>An act to amend Section 1172.1 of the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure. </ns0:Title>
		<ns0:RelatingClause>criminal procedure</ns0:RelatingClause>
		<ns0:GeneralSubject>
			<ns0:Subject>Recall and resentencing: incarcerated firefighters.</ns0:Subject>
		</ns0:GeneralSubject>
		<ns0:DigestText>
			<html:p>Existing law authorizes a court, on its own motion within 120 days of the date of the defendant’s commitment, or at any time if the applicable sentencing laws have changed or upon a recommendation from the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Board of Parole Hearings, or the district attorney, to recall a defendant’s sentence and resentence that defendant to a lesser sentence.</html:p>
			<html:p>Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camps for the purpose of having incarcerated persons work on projects supervised by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the department to utilize incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work at the department.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would require the Department
			 of Corrections and Rehabilitation, no later than July 1, 2027, to promulgate regulations, as specified, regarding the referral of participants in the California Conservation Camp program and incarcerated persons working at institutional firehouses for resentencing.</html:p>
		</ns0:DigestText>
		<ns0:DigestKey>
			<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
			<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
			<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
			<ns0:LocalProgram>NO</ns0:LocalProgram>
		</ns0:DigestKey>
		<ns0:MeasureIndicators>
			<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
			<ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
				<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
				<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
				<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
				<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
				<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
				<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
			</ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
		</ns0:MeasureIndicators>
	</ns0:Description>
	<ns0:Bill id="bill">
		<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_B57136CC-3501-43C0-9952-E95B85AD211D">
			<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:Content>
				<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(a)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), in cooperation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, operates 35 conservation camps throughout California. All camps are minimum security facilities and staffed with correctional staff.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(b)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					The primary mission of the California Conservation Camp program is to support state, local, and federal government agencies as they respond to emergencies, including fires, floods, and other natural disasters.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(c)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					CDCR health care staff clear participants as physically and mentally fit for vigorous activity to participate in the program. Additionally, inmates, based on behavior in prison, have the lowest security classification. Inmates with more than eight years remaining on their sentence are ineligible to participate.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(d)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					The work is extraordinarily dangerous. Multiple inmates have died fighting fires.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(e)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					Hundreds of incarcerated firefighters worked, around the clock, to help slow the spread of the massive fires in January 2025 in Los Angeles County. These volunteer firefighters cut fire lines and removed fuel to slow the fire spread.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(f)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					According to the
				Secretary of the CDCR, Jeff Macomber, the incarcerated workers are an “essential” part of the state’s response and “their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated.”
				</html:p>
			</ns0:Content>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_819B7FE4-1E72-4D14-8049-B45624956BE7">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:PEN:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'TITLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'7.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'4.5.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.5.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'1172.1.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 1172.1 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_9513EEEF-3140-4A51-9B1F-F44CA70058DB">
					<ns0:Num>1172.1.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_94C8A8BB-AEAF-4B54-AB0C-84E4D5614AAF">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								When a defendant, upon conviction for a felony offense, has been committed to the custody of the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or to the custody of the county correctional administrator pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the court may, on its own motion, within 120 days of the date of commitment or at any time if the applicable sentencing laws at the time of original sentencing are subsequently changed by new statutory authority or case law, at any time upon the recommendation of the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings in the case of a defendant incarcerated in state prison, the county correctional administrator in the case of a defendant incarcerated in county jail,
						the district attorney of the county in which the defendant was sentenced, or the Attorney General if the Department of Justice originally prosecuted the case, recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and resentence the defendant in the same manner as if they had not previously been sentenced, whether or not the defendant is still in custody, and provided the new sentence, if any, is no greater than the initial sentence. Recall and resentencing under this section may be initiated by the original sentencing judge, a judge designated by the presiding judge, or any judge with jurisdiction in the case.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The court, in recalling and resentencing pursuant to this subdivision,
						shall apply the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council and apply any changes in law that reduce sentences or provide for judicial discretion so as to eliminate disparity of sentences and to promote uniformity of sentencing.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The resentencing court may, in the interest of justice and regardless of whether the original sentence was imposed after a trial or plea agreement, do the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(A)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Reduce a defendant’s term of imprisonment by modifying the sentence.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(B)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Vacate the defendant’s conviction and impose judgment on any necessarily included lesser offense or lesser related offense, whether or not that offense was charged in the original pleading, with the concurrence of the defendant, and then resentence the defendant
						to a reduced term of imprisonment.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(4)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If the court has recalled the sentence on its own motion, the court shall not impose a judgment on any necessarily included lesser offense or lesser related offense if the conviction was a result of a plea bargain without the concurrence of both the defendant and the district attorney of the county in which the defendant was sentenced, or the Attorney General if the Department of Justice originally prosecuted the case.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(5)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								In recalling and resentencing pursuant to this provision, the court shall consider postconviction factors, including, but not limited to, the disciplinary record and record of rehabilitation of the defendant while incarcerated, evidence that reflects whether age, time served, and diminished physical condition, if any, have reduced
						the defendant’s risk for future violence, and evidence that reflects that circumstances have changed since the original sentencing so that continued incarceration is no longer in the interest of justice. Evidence that the defendant’s incarceration is no longer in the interest of justice includes, but is not limited to, evidence that the defendant’s constitutional rights were violated in the proceedings related to the conviction or sentence at issue, and any other evidence that undermines the integrity of the underlying conviction or sentence. The court shall consider if the defendant has experienced psychological, physical, or childhood trauma, including, but not limited to, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or sexual violence, if the defendant was a victim of intimate partner violence or human trafficking prior to or at the time of the commission of the offense, or if the defendant is a youth or was a youth
						as defined under subdivision (b) of Section 1016.7 at the time of the commission of the offense, and whether those circumstances were a contributing factor in the commission of the offense.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(6)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Credit shall be given for time served.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(7)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The court shall state on the record the reasons for its decision to grant or deny recall and resentencing.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(8)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								(A)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Resentencing may be granted without a hearing upon stipulation by the parties.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(B)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if a victim of a crime wishes to be heard pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of Article I of the California Constitution, or pursuant to any other provision of law
						applicable to the hearing, the victim shall notify the prosecution of their request to be heard within 15 days of being notified that resentencing is being sought and the court shall provide an opportunity for the victim to be heard.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(9)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Resentencing shall not be denied, nor a stipulation rejected, without a hearing where the parties have an opportunity to address the basis for the intended denial or rejection. If a hearing is held, the defendant may appear remotely and the court may conduct the hearing through the use of remote technology, unless counsel requests their physical presence in court.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If a resentencing request pursuant to subdivision (a) is from the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Board of Parole Hearings, a county correctional
						administrator, a district attorney, or the Attorney General, all of the following shall apply:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The court shall provide notice to the defendant and set a status conference within 30 days after the date that the court received the request. The court’s order setting the conference shall also appoint counsel to represent the defendant.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								There shall be a presumption favoring recall and resentencing of the defendant, which may only be overcome if a court finds the defendant currently poses an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1170.18.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A defendant is not entitled to file a petition seeking relief from the court under this section. If a defendant requests consideration
						for relief under this section, the court is not required to respond.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								After ruling on a referral authorized by this section, the court shall advise the defendant of their right to appeal and the necessary steps and time for taking an appeal.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(e)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								In recognition of the vital role that incarcerated persons have played protecting the people and property of California from wildfires, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall, by no later than July 1, 2027, promulgate regulations regarding the referral for resentencing of current participants in the California Conservation Camp program, former participants in the California Conservation Camp program who are still in custody, and incarcerated persons working at institutional firehouses that utilize the existing extraordinary
						conduct referral process and establish all of the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Authorize the referral for resentencing of eligible incarcerated persons who have two or more years remaining to serve in state prison on their sentence.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Prohibit the exclusion of individuals from resentencing consideration based solely on past or pending parole hearing dates.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Prohibit the imposition of a minimum time served requirement as a condition for resentencing consideration.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
	</ns0:Bill>
</ns0:MeasureDoc>
Last Version Text Digest Existing law authorizes a court, on its own motion within 120 days of the date of the defendant’s commitment, or at any time if the applicable sentencing laws have changed or upon a recommendation from the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Board of Parole Hearings, or the district attorney, to recall a defendant’s sentence and resentence that defendant to a lesser sentence. Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camps for the purpose of having incarcerated persons work on projects supervised by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the department to utilize incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work at the department. This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, no later than July 1, 2027, to promulgate regulations, as specified, regarding the referral of participants in the California Conservation Camp program and incarcerated persons working at institutional firehouses for resentencing.