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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02131990 - 1.26 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �E Contra FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator - Costa DATE: February 5 , 1990 '�"�' �'�' County�� SUBJECT: LEGISLATION: AB 1053 (Lempert) I SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECONIlEENDATION Adopt a position in SUPPORT of AB 1053 by Assemblyman Lempert which would authorize increased civil penalties when a property owner has been warned by the District Attorney or city attorney that the property owner' s property is being used for specified controlled substance violations and fails to prevent or abate the situation. BACKGROUND Existing law authorizes the imposition of a civil penalty of up to $25,000 against any or all defendants in an action which establishes that a building or place constitutes a nuisance because of a specified controlled substance violation. AB 1053 , as amended January 12, 1990, would create a separate maximum civil penalty of up to $500,000 which a court may assess if the court finds that, subsequent to written notification from the District Attorney or city attorney that the building or place is a nuisance because it is being used for the purpose of unlawfully selling, serving, storing, keeping, manufacturing or giving away any controlled substance, precursor or analog in violation of existing law, the defendant or defendants failed to take action to prevent or abate the nuisance. AB 1053 would exempt public housing corporation from these provisions. The bill would also require the court to consider in assessing a civil penalty in excess of $25,000 the severity and Yes CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE �L APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): �i/! /�-�-C '00e ACTION OF BOARD ON February 13 , 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD I, ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: Please see Page 2 . ATTESTED FEB 1 .3 1990 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR M382 (10/88) BY DEPUTY i duration of the nuisance and whether the defendant or defendants derived any economic benefits other than the fair market rental value from the existence of the nuisance. The bill would also allow the courtlto assess the civil penalty only if the District Attorney or city attorney has previously made application for a temporary writ of injunction or if the District Attorney or city attorney has determined that based on the available evidence the application is not warranted. AB 1053 provides that the maximum civil penalty of up to $500 ,000 would be divided as follows: 45% to the law enforcement or prosecutorial agency or agencies which investigated the case, 45% to the District ;Attorney' s office or city attorney' s office which filed the action, to be used solely for controlled substance law enforcement and 10% to programs that are part of the county drug program plan for drug prevention and education. These funds would all have to be used to supplement any local, state or federal funds which would otherwise be made available to these agencies. AB 1053 appears; to be consistent with the Board of Supervisors' war on drugs in that it increases the penalties on a property owner who allows his or her property to be used to manufacture or distribute illegal drugs. As a result, it appears that it would be appropriate for the Board to indicate its support for AB 1053 . cc: County Administrator District Attorney Sheriff-Coroner Public Defender County Probation Officer Health Services Director Superior Court ,Administrator Municipal Court Administrator Drug Program Administrator Chairman, Drug Abuse Advisory Committee Les Spahnn, SRJI Jackson, Barish & Associates i