March 26, 2020

Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order N-36-20: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

On March 24, 2020, the Newsom Administration announced the issuance of Executive Order N-36-20 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the prison staff and inmate population. The EO directs the Secretary of CDCR to suspend intake into state prisons for 30 days. All offenders convicted of felony offenses are to be received, detained, or housed in the jail or other facility currently detaining or housing them. This order also extends to the Division of Juvenile Justice facilities for the same duration of time and both the adult and juvenile intake suspensions may be extended in 30-day increments.

The Executive Order also includes provisions that transition the state’s Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) to a videoconference process for parole suitability hearings. This process is to be operational no later than April 13, 2020. To effectuate this change, the Executive Order also includes language directing BPH to cease in-person parole hearings for 60 days and to postpone any scheduled hearings until the April 13 videoconference go-live date. The cancellation of in-person hearings may also be extended in 30-day increments. Lastly, to the extent existing law gives any person (inmates, inmate attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, and victims and family) the right to be present at a parole hearing that right is satisfied by the opportunity to appear by videoconference. For more details on the Governor’s Executive Order visit the Office of the Governor’s website here.

Chief Justice Issues Statewide Order Suspending Jury Trials Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

As of March 23, 2020, California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye issued a statewide order suspending all jury trials in California’s superior courts for 60 days and allowing courts to immediately adopt new rules to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her order includes the following directives:

• All jury trials are suspended and continued for 60 days. Courts may conduct a trial at an earlier date upon finding of good cause shown or through use of remote technology when appropriate.
   
• Time periods to begin criminal and civil trials is extended for 60 days, though courts may conduct trials earlier upon finding of good cause or through remote technology when appropriate.
   
• Superior courts are authorized to adopt any proposed rules or rule amendment that is intended to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to take effect immediately, without advance circulation for 45 days of public comment. A court adopting any such rule change must immediately distribute the new or amended rule, and no litigant’s substantive rights shall be prejudiced for failing to comply with the requirements of a new or amended rule until at least 20 days after the rule change has been distributed.
   

For additional information, please visit the Judicial Council’s website at: https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/chief-justice-issues-statewide-order-suspending-jury-trials.

A copy of the full order can be found here.

Updated Information for the BSCC Proposition 64 Request for Proposals (RFP)

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its widespread impacts across the state, BSCC has made the decision to delay the due date for responses to the Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant Program pending further action. The Prop 64 PH&S Grant Program directs revenue from the cultivation and sale of cannabis to projects that promote public health and safety.

At the Thursday, April 9, 2020 BSCC Board meeting, the Board will establish new due dates and timelines for the grant.  During the meeting, a proposal will be made to extend the RFP due date to Friday, June 5, 2020. In the interim, do not submit a proposal. Please continue to check the BSCC webpage at http://www.bscc.ca.gov/proposition-64-public-health-safety-grant-program/, for additional information as it becomes available. If you have additional questions, please email the BSCC Prop 64 PH&S Grant inbox at: Prop64 Grant@bscc.ca.gov.