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AB-1759 • 2026

Prisons: classification.

Prisons: classification.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Elhawary
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not mention that prisoners are directly affected by this bill.

Prison Classification Study

This law requires a study of California's prison classification system and sets criteria for selecting the research entity to conduct it.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to contract with an independent research entity to reassess the entire security classification system.
  • Specifies that the Office of the Inspector General must choose the research group based on certain rules, such as having research institutions in California State University or the University of California and demonstrated expertise on Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation policy and data.
  • Asks for policy suggestions to improve the classification system's effectiveness.
  • Requires the final report to be made public by January 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  • Independent research groups

Terms To Know

classification system
A set of rules used by the prison department to decide where prisoners should be placed based on their behavior, risk level, and other factors.
Office of the Inspector General
An office that checks if government agencies are following laws and regulations properly.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be spent on the study.
  • It is unclear what specific changes might come from the report's recommendations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  3. 2026-02-10 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.

  4. 2026-02-09 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1759, as introduced, Elhawary.
Prisons: classification.
Existing law requires the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to evaluate a person who is newly committed to a state prison and classify incarcerated persons based on the evaluations, and, when reasonable, assign or reassign an incarcerated person to the institution of the appropriate security level and gender population nearest the incarcerated person’s home, unless other classification factors make that placement unreasonable.
This bill would require the department to contract with an independent research entity to conduct a study to reassess the entire security classification system, as specified. The bill would require the study to contain policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the classification system, as specified. The bill would require the Office of the Inspector General to select the research
entity to perform the study according to specified criteria, including, among others, that the entity has research institutions based in the California State University or the University of California and has demonstrated expertise on Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation policy and data. The bill would require the report to be published on or before January 1, 2028.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF