Bill > SB245

This bill modifies California Penal Code Section 1203.4b to improve opportunities for individuals who have participated in specific rehabilitation programs during incarceration. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or county authorities to certify to the court that an individual successfully participated in conservation camp programs, county hand crew programs, or institutional firehouse programs upon their release. The bill eliminates the previous requirement that courts provide a copy of a defendant's petition to these authorities. Importantly, the bill prohibits state and local agencies from denying emergency medical technician certification or firefighter licensing to individuals who have had their criminal pleadings dismissed, based solely on their prior arrest or conviction history. The legislation applies to individuals who have successfully completed specified rehabilitation programs, with exceptions for serious crimes like murder, rape, and certain sex offenses. The bill also allows for early termination of probation, parole, or supervised release if the defendant has not violated any terms, and provides that dismissed convictions do not need to be disclosed on most job applications. If the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes additional costs on local agencies, the state will reimburse those costs according to existing statutory procedures.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB245