An act to amend Section 646.92 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes.
Summary
AB 2133 would amend Penal Code Section 646.92 to require earlier advance notice to victims, family members, and witnesses when certain offenders are released from state prison or county jail, change parole status or location, abscond from supervision, or escape from an institution or reentry facility. The bill increases the minimum notice period from 15 days to 20 days for people convicted of violating the stalking statute (Penal Code Section 646.9) or a felony domestic violence offense.
The measure preserves existing notification procedures, including notice by telephone, email, mail, or certified mail; the ability for a victim to designate another recipient; confidentiality of recipient information; and the requirement that recipients keep their contact information current. It also leaves intact the rule that substantial compliance satisfies the notice requirement and the duty of law enforcement or corrections officials to attempt to advise victims of their right to request notification if they did not initially do so.
Impact
AB 2133 would make a narrow but meaningful change to California victim-notification law by extending the required lead time for release notices from 15 to 20 days under Penal Code Section 646.92. The affected agencies would be the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, county sheriffs, and local correctional directors, which would need to provide notice earlier to eligible victims, family members, and witnesses in stalking and felony domestic violence cases. The bill does not create a new program or expand the categories of covered offenses; it adjusts the timing of an existing notification duty.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill, but with limited public record. The bill was introduced and referred to Assembly Public Safety, where it was set for first hearing, but the hearing was canceled at the request of the author. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, so there is no evidence of organized opposition or support beyond the bill’s placement in the public safety process.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether victims should receive more advance warning before an offender’s release or supervision change. Supporters would likely view the extra five days as giving victims more time to plan for safety, arrange services, and prepare for contact or release-related risk. Any concern would likely center on administrative burden for corrections and law enforcement agencies, though the bill’s fiscal and local-program designations suggest the change is modest and operational rather than expansive. Because the bill was canceled before hearing, no formal committee debate is available to identify specific opponents or disputed amendments.