AB2310:v94#DOCUMENTBill Start
Assembly Bill
No. 2310
CHAPTER 826
An act to add Section 3041.8 to the Penal Code, relating to parole.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 28, 2024.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 28, 2024.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2310, Hart.
Parole hearings: language access.
Existing law imposes specified requirements on all hearings conducted by the Board of Parole Hearings for the purpose of reviewing a prisoner’s parole suitability, or the setting, postponing, or rescinding of parole dates, including, among other things, that the incarcerated person be permitted to be present, to ask and answer questions, and to speak on their own behalf.
This bill would require the board to translate specified blank templates of notices and forms into the 5 most common languages spoken by incarcerated persons who are eligible for a parole hearing. The bill would require the board, at least once every 5 years, to determine the applicable languages and, if there is a material change to one of those templates, to update the translated version within a reasonable time.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
YES
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 3041.8 is added to the Penal Code, to read:3041.8.
(a) The Board of Parole Hearings shall translate all of the following documents into the five most common languages spoken by incarcerated persons who are eligible for a parole hearing:(1) Blank templates of notices used to explain the rights of incarcerated persons during the parole hearing process.
(2) Blank templates of notices used to provide procedural information to incarcerated persons about the parole hearing process.
(3) Blank templates of forms used by an incarcerated person to file a grievance alleging there has been a denial of the person’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
(4) Blank templates of forms used by an incarcerated person to file a petition to advance their next parole hearing date.
(b) If a material change is made to the templates of notices or templates of forms described in subdivision (a), the board shall update the translated version within a reasonable time.
(c) At least once every five years, the board shall determine the five most common languages spoken by incarcerated persons who are eligible for a parole hearing.