The Assembly Health Committee voted Tuesday to move SB 995, a bill that would create statewide inspection and compliance standards for large voluntary residential facilities, including detention facilities, to the Judiciary Committee.
A committee summary says the measure by Sen. Perez would put California Department of Public Health in charge of coordinating inspections and enforcement. The committee advanced the bill after hearing testimony that tied detention conditions to unsafe food, delayed medical care and deaths behind bars, according to the summary of the June 16 hearing.
The hearing record also identifies supporters including MALDEF, CHIRLA, Public Counsel and the South Asian Network. Opponents raised concerns about duplication and the bill’s scope, with probation officials objecting to the inclusion of secure youth treatment facilities, the summary says.
The committee summary does not include the exact vote tally or named ayes and noes, and it does not provide the full bill text or any amendment language. Further reporting could clarify how the inspection system would work in practice and which facilities would fall under the measure beyond detention centers.
