Bill Text: CA SB304 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 304 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Criminal procedure: prosecutorial jurisdiction in multi-jurisdictional elder abuse cases.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 206, Statutes of 2019. [SB304 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB304-Chaptered.html

Senate Bill No. 304

CHAPTER 206

An act to add Section 784.8 to the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure.

[ Approved by Governor August 30, 2019. Filed with Secretary of State August 30, 2019. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 304, Hill. Criminal procedure: prosecutorial jurisdiction in multi-jurisdictional elder abuse cases.

Existing law provides that when more than one violation of certain specified offenses occurs in more than one jurisdictional territory, jurisdiction for any of those offenses and any other properly joinable offenses may be in any jurisdiction where at least one of the offenses occurred if all district attorneys in the counties with jurisdiction over any of the offenses agree to the venue.

This bill would create a similar authority for the prosecution of specified financial elder abuse felony offenses occurring in multiple jurisdictions.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 784.8 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

784.8.

If more than one felony violation of subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 368 occurs in more than one jurisdictional territory, the jurisdiction of any of those offenses, and for any offenses properly joinable with that offense, is in any jurisdiction where at least one of the offenses occurred, subject to a hearing, pursuant to Section 954, within the jurisdiction of the proposed trial. At the hearing held pursuant to Section 954, the prosecution shall present written evidence that all district attorneys in counties with jurisdiction of the offenses agree to the venue. Charged offenses from any jurisdiction where there is not a written agreement from the district attorney shall be returned to that jurisdiction. In determining whether all counts in the complaint should be joined in one county for prosecution, the court shall consider the location and complexity of the likely evidence, where the majority of the offenses occurred, the rights of the defendant and the people, and the convenience of, or hardship to, the victim or victims and witnesses.