Criminal procedure: arraignment pilot program.

Existing law requires the magistrate, on motion of counsel for the defendant or the defendant, when the defendant is in custody at the time he or she appears before the magistrate for arraignment and the public offense is a misdemeanor to which the defendant has pleaded not guilty, to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a public offense has been committed and that the defendant is guilty of that offense. Existing law requires the determination of probable cause to be made immediately, unless the court grants a continuance not to exceed 3 court days, for good cause. This bill would establish a 3-year pilot project in 3 counties, as specified, that would require a court to apply those same procedures to the arraignment of a defendant who is not in custody for a public offense that is a misdemeanor to which the defendant has pleaded not guilty, except that this bill would allow the court to grant a continuance not to exceed 15 days to determine probable cause. The bill would require the Department of Justice to provide information to the Assembly Committee on Budget, the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature regarding the implementation of the above provisions no later than July 1, 2020.