The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted Friday to back creation of a diversion program for defendants convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery.
AB339 would authorize justice and municipal courts to establish a treatment program for those defendants.
The bill provides that, if the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty, the court can assign the defendant to those programs and not enter a judgment of conviction. Further proceedings would be suspended while the defendant completes the program.
If successful, the court would be required to discharge the defendant, dismiss the proceedings and seal the case records.
Existing law already allows a court to assign a defendant to a program for treatment of veterans and military members if the charge is a first offense misdemeanor.
The bill also eliminates the existing prohibition on plea bargaining misdemeanor domestic battery cases.
AB339 goes to the Assembly floor for a vote.
