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AB-157 • 2026

Public safety.

Public safety.

Budget Children Crime Housing Small Business
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Committee on Budget
Last action
Official status
Senate - Inactive
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text provided is truncated at the end of section (5), so details on the final calculation for statewide per capita payments are missing.

Public Safety Budget Changes

This bill changes how state agencies handle contracts for prison programs, renames two correctional groups if another law passes by a specific date, gives a director access to local jail records regarding deaths, and updates the math used to pay counties for keeping people out of prison.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the need for General Services approval on contracts for housing mothers with young children in community treatment programs.
  • Allows the Department of Corrections to sign long-term contracts up to 10 years for these community facilities after advertising them publicly and giving priority to certain programs.
  • Exempts State Public Defender contracts from specific small business, disabled veteran, public contracting rules, contract register requirements, and General Services review.
  • Renames the Prison Industry Authority and Board if Senate Bill 857 becomes law by January 1, 2026.
  • Gives the Director of In-Custody Death Review authority to examine and copy records from local detention facilities regarding death incidents.
  • Changes how incentive payments are calculated for counties based on actual prison admission numbers instead of estimated failure rates.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  • The State Public Defender's office
  • Local detention facilities and county governments
  • Women in state prison with children under age 6

Terms To Know

Community treatment program
A facility where mothers sentenced to prison can live with their young children instead of staying inside the main prison.
State-mandated local program
New duties required by state law that increase work or costs for city and county governments.
In-Custody Death Review
A role within the Board of State and Community Corrections focused on investigating deaths in detention facilities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The renaming of correctional authorities only happens if Senate Bill 857 is passed by January 1, 2026.
  • The official text regarding the statewide per capita calculation for incentive payments was cut off in the source material.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Inactive

Official Summary Text

Public safety.