Parole hearings: attorney notice.

Existing law requires the Board of Parole Hearings, among other responsibilities, to conduct parole suitability hearings and determine whether an inmate is suitable for parole. Existing law authorizes the victim, the victim's next of kin, the victim's family members, or 2 representatives designated by the victim or next of kin, to appear, personally or by counsel, at parole suitability hearings and to express their views concerning the inmate and the case. This bill would require the district attorney's office or the Attorney General's office that prosecuted the case to provide no less than 45 days' notice to the board and to the crime victim, victim's next of kin, or members of the victim's family if they will not be sending a representative to a parole hearing, thereby creating 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.