Crisis Response for Victims and Survivors of Violence Pilot Program.

Existing law establishes a resource center that operates a statewide, toll-free information service for crime victims, and requires the resource center to distribute information and educational materials on victims' legal rights to specified agencies and organizations, including administrative and law enforcement agencies. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, create the Crisis Response for Victims and Survivors of Violence Pilot Program to provide support services to the victims and survivors of violence and crime and their loved ones. The program would be piloted in the City and County of San Francisco, the County of Contra Costa, the County of Los Angeles, and the County of San Joaquin. The bill would require each participating district attorney's office to establish a crisis response service team to develop and implement, among other things, a process to connect with victims, survivors, and their loved ones within 2 hours of violence or a crime and a process for responding to incidents of mass casualty, as defined. The bill would require these services to be available to victims and survivors 7 days a week by telephone and text message. The bill would require each participating district attorney's office to provide comprehensive reporting, as specified, on the program's outcomes. The bill would provide that the pilot program will run from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026, with an evaluation term beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2027. The bill would remain in effect until January 1, 2028. By requiring county district attorney offices to participate in this pilot program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.