Arraignment: military and veteran status: forms.

Existing law requires, when a defendant is brought before a magistrate upon arrest, on a charge of having committed a public offense, the magistrate to immediately inform the defendant of the charge against him or her and the defendant's right to counsel at every stage of the proceedings. Under existing law, if it appears that the defendant may be a minor, the magistrate is required to ascertain if that is the case and, if it is and the defendant meets specified requirements, to immediately notify the parent or guardian of the minor of the arrest or to appoint counsel to the minor. This bill would require the Judicial Council to revise its military service form to include information explaining the rights of individuals who have active duty or veteran status, as defined, and to include a space for the local court to include the contact information for the county veterans service office. The bill would require the court to inform the defendant that there are certain provisions of law specifically designed for individuals who have active duty or veteran status and who have been charged with a crime. The bill would require the court to inform the defendant that if the defendant is on active duty in the United States military, or is a veteran of the United States military, the defendant may request a copy of the Judicial Council military form that explains those rights and may file that form with the court. The bill would require the court to advise the defendant that the defendant may, without penalty, decline to provide that information to the court. The bill would require a defendant who acknowledges active duty or veteran status and submits the form to the court to file the form with the court and serve the form on the prosecuting attorney and defense counsel. The bill would require the court to transmit a copy of the form to the county veterans service officer for confirmation of the defendant's military service, and to transmit a copy of the form to the Department of Veterans Affairs.