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AB-2259 • 2026

Prisons: mental health.

Prisons: mental health.

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Ransom
Last action
2026-05-14
Official status
In committee: Held under submission.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prisons: mental health.

AB 2259, as introduced, Ransom.

What This Bill Does

  • AB 2259, as introduced, Ransom.
  • Prisons: mental health.
  • Existing law authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish and maintain classes for incarcerated persons utilizing institutional personnel or entering into an agreement with the governing board of a school district or private school.
  • Existing law requires the department to develop and implement a plan to obtain additional rehabilitation and treatment services for incarcerated persons and parolees.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-14 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  2. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

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

  3. 2026-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  5. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  6. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2259, as introduced, Ransom.
Prisons: mental health.
Existing law authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish and maintain classes for incarcerated persons utilizing institutional personnel or entering into an agreement with the governing board of a school district or private school. Existing law requires the department to develop and implement a plan to obtain additional rehabilitation and treatment services for incarcerated persons and parolees. Existing law requires that plan to include, among other things, filling vacant state staff positions that provide direct and indirect rehabilitation services, or obtaining services from local governments and contractors to assist with treatment for parolees and incarcerated persons.
This bill would require the department to establish a 3-year pilot program at 2 institutions that would provide access to
specified mental health therapy for certain incarcerated persons not classified by the department to receive mental health treatment from the institution. The bill would require communications during therapy sessions, as specified, between the incarcerated person and assigned therapist to be confidential. The bill would require the California Correctional Health Care Services to be the custodian of records for treatment records generated under this pilot program. The bill would require the department to report certain information to the fiscal and appropriate policy committees of the Legislature, from March 1, 2028, to March 1, 2031.
The bill would make related findings and declarations.

Current Bill Text

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