Senate BillPassed first houseWelfare and Institutions
SB 379: Sexually violent predators.
What SB 379 does, verified December 6, 2025
The bill requires the state department of state hospitals to consider public safety when placing a conditionally released sexually violent predator. The department must approve a potential placement before a lease or rental agreement is signed. This ensures that the placement of a sexually violent predator does not put others at risk. The bill also aims to increase accountability, fairness, and enforcement in the placement process. The measure is declared to take effect immediately to address the urgent need for public safety.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. (2025-08-29)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions19 total · showing 5
| Aug. 29, 2025 | August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Jul. 09, 2025 | July 9 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Jul. 09, 2025 | July 9 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jun. 17, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun. 09, 2025 | Referred to Com. on PUB. S. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 13, 2025 · 591 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 379
| Introduced by Senator Jones |
February 13, 2025 |
An act to add Section 6609.4 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to sexually violent predators, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 379, as introduced, Jones. Sexually violent predators.
Existing law provides for the civil commitment of a person who is determined to be a sexually violent predator. Existing law establishes a procedure by which a person committed as a sexually violent predator may petition for conditional release and requires the court, if it makes a specified determination, to place the person on conditional release. Existing law generally requires that a person released on conditional release pursuant to these provisions be placed in the person’s county of domicile prior to their incarceration unless extraordinary circumstances exist requiring placement outside the county, as specified. Existing law also prohibits the placement of a person released on conditional release within 1/4 mile of any public or private school, as specified.
Existing law defines a sexually violent predator as a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and has a diagnosed mental disorder that makes the person a danger to others in that they are likely to engage in sexually violent criminal behavior. Existing law requires the State Department of State Hospitals to notify the sheriff or chief of police, or both, the district attorney, or the county’s designated counsel under specific circumstances, including when it makes a recommendation to the court for community outpatient treatment for a person committed as a sexually violent predator.
This bill, the Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act, would require the State Department of State Hospitals to ensure department vendors consider public safety in the placement of a conditionally released sexually violent predator and approve a potential placement before a department employee or vendor signs a lease or rental agreement for the placement of a sexually violent predator, as specified.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 6609.4 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:6609.4.
(a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act.(b) The State Department of State Hospitals is responsible for ensuring that department vendors consider public safety in the placement of a sexually violent predator conditionally released pursuant to this article.
(c) (1) The State Department of State Hospitals shall approve a potential placement before a department employee or vendor proposes a potential placement to a court, including signing a lease or rental agreement regarding the placement of a sexually violent predator who is scheduled to be conditionally released in the community.
(2) This subdivision does not prohibit the placement of a financial hold on a residence for purposes of assessing suitability and public safety considerations for the prospective placement of a person committed as a sexually violent predator.
SEC. 2.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order to protect the public and ensure greater transparency in the placement of sexually violent predators in communities at the earliest possible time, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.
Text of SB 379 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions