AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 15, 2024

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 16, 2024

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 1, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

94

CHAPTER 826

Statutes of 2024

[ Approved by Governor September 28, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2024. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Hart

February 12, 2024

An act to add Section 3041.8 to the Penal Code, relating to parole.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law imposes specified requirements on all hearings conducted by the Board of Parole Hearings for the purpose of reviewing a prisoner’s parole suitability, or the setting, postponing, or rescinding of parole dates, including, among other things, that the incarcerated person be permitted to be present, to ask and answer questions, and to speak on their own behalf.

This bill would require the board to translate specified blank templates of notices and forms into the 5 most common languages spoken by incarcerated persons who are eligible for a parole hearing. The bill would require the board, at least once every 5 years, to determine the applicable languages and, if there is a material change to one of those templates, to update the translated version within a reasonable time.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 3041.8 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

3041.8.

(a) The Board of Parole Hearings shall translate all of the following documents into the five most common languages spoken by incarcerated persons who are eligible for a parole hearing:

(1) Blank templates of notices used to explain the rights of incarcerated persons during the parole hearing process.

(2) Blank templates of notices used to provide procedural information to incarcerated persons about the parole hearing process.

(3) Blank templates of forms used by an incarcerated person to file a grievance alleging there has been a denial of the person’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

(4) Blank templates of forms used by an incarcerated person to file a petition to advance their next parole hearing date.

(b) If a material change is made to the templates of notices or templates of forms described in subdivision (a), the board shall update the translated version within a reasonable time.

(c) At least once every five years, the board shall determine the five most common languages spoken by incarcerated persons who are eligible for a parole hearing.