AB 1545 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Sexually violent predators.

Summary

Existing law defines a sexually violent predator to mean a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against one or more victims and who has a diagnosed mental disorder that makes the person a danger to the health and safety of others in that it is likely that the person will engage in sexually violent criminal behavior. For purposes of this definition, a conviction for a sexually violent offense includes convictions that resulted in either a determinate or an indeterminate prison sentence, as specified. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to refer a person who is in custody under that department's jurisdiction, and who is serving a determinate sentence or whose parole has been revoked, for evaluation by the State Department of State Hospitals at least 6 months prior to that individual's scheduled date for release from prison if the secretary determines that the person may be a sexually violent predator. Existing law requires a petition for commitment as a sexually violent predator to be filed in the county in which the person was convicted of the sexual offense for which the person was committed to the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. This bill would also require the Executive Officer of the Board of Parole Hearings to make that referral and revise the criteria for referral to additionally apply to a person who is serving an indeterminate prison sentence. The bill would also authorize the secretary, or the Executive Officer of the Board of Parole Hearings, to refer the person for evaluation if the person will be scheduled for a parole hearing within the next 6 months. By imposing additional duties on counties regarding commitment of persons as sexually violent predators, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also make conforming changes. 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.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

01/05/26 - Introduced → 03/09/26 - Amended Assembly · 8 edits · Mar 9, 2026

MODERATE

The amendment adds an entirely new component to AB 1545, expanding it from a single-topic journalist protection bill into a dual-purpose measure that also significantly expands the sexually violent predator (SVP) commitment process. The new provisions broaden who can be referred for SVP evaluation to include people serving indeterminate prison sentences, expand what counts as a qualifying prior conviction (including probation grants, NGRI findings, juvenile commitments, and pre-1977 indeterminate sentences), and give the Board of Parole Hearings authority to make referrals alongside CDCR. The original journalist protection section is retained but renumbered.

Scope change

The bill's scope expands substantially from a single-topic measure (sentencing enhancement for targeted attacks on journalists) to a dual-purpose bill that also overhauls key aspects of the sexually violent predator commitment process, including who can be referred for evaluation, what prior convictions qualify, and new procedural requirements for counties and state agencies.

SCOPE

The bill now amends Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 6600 and 6601, adding an entirely new sexually violent predator component alongside the existing journalist protection provisions.

Coauthors Assembly Member Hoover and Senator Niello are added, and the legislative digest is updated to cover both the journalist protection and sexually violent predator subjects.

ELIGIBILITY

Section 6601 is amended so that the Executive Officer of the Board of Parole Hearings can now make SVP evaluation referrals in addition to the CDCR Secretary, and the referral criteria are expanded to cover persons serving indeterminate prison sentences (previously only determinate sentences or parole revocations qualified).

Section 6600 is amended to expand what counts as a qualifying prior conviction for SVP purposes: adds convictions that resulted in an indeterminate prison sentence, convictions where the person received probation, prior NGRI findings, mentally disordered sex offender findings, and juvenile commitments to the Division of Juvenile Facilities.

A new provision allows a prior juvenile adjudication (age 16 or older, committed to DJF) to count as a prior conviction for SVP purposes, and specifies that failure to provide specific treatment to a minor adjudged a ward of the court shall not bar an SVP determination.

REQUIREMENT

New procedural requirements are added for SVP referrals: structured screening instruments, standardized assessment protocols, independent professional evaluations when evaluators disagree, 20-day advance notice for petition filing, and 15-day notification to State Hospitals of county decisions on whether to file petitions.

ENFORCEMENT

A new provision states that a probable cause finding under Section 6601.5 shall toll the person's parole if they are determined to be an SVP.

FISCAL

The bill now includes a state mandate reimbursement provision for the SVP-related local program costs, replacing the original no-reimbursement clause that only applied to the journalist protection section.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

lower

Jan 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee February 5.

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors