CalVCB reports audits, staffing and access improvements; several bills advance that could affect victims' services

SACRAMENTO — At its July 17 meeting, the California Victim Compensation Board received operational updates from Executive Officer Linda Gledhill and a legislative briefing from Deputy Executive Officer Katie Gardenis covering state audits, staffing, regulatory activity and pending bills that could affect victim‑service programs.

Executive updates: Gledhill told the board that the state budget signed June 27 provided positions in CalVCB’s legal division to address an appeals backlog and that the agency is recruiting to fill those roles. She said CalVCB is monitoring the federal victim compensation grant process and had not yet received the current year’s grant distribution; staff are preparing because conditions may be attached to the grant.

Gledhill also described two state audits: a Joint Legislative Audit Committee review of the state’s restitution system that includes CalVCB, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the Franchise Tax Board, and a routine State Controller’s Office audit of the Proposition 47 grant program that will kick off in August. "There’s some confusion about the nexus between restitution and compensation," Gledhill said, "we just want to make it very clear that victims qualify for compensation regardless of the existence or status of a restitution order."

Plain language and accessibility: Gledhill said CalVCB has lowered the reading level and shortened a benefit resource guide (from 6 pages to 2) and is translating outreach materials into 15 languages to improve access. She also noted CalVCB’s 60th anniversary and that staff presented on plain‑language work at a national conference.

Legislative update: Gardenis summarized several bills. AB 379 (Schultz) would require CalVCB to award grants to community‑based organizations providing direct services in areas with a high concentration of trafficking; it had passed the legislature and was on the governor’s desk. AB 938 (Bonta) would allow individuals who committed violent crimes while victims of trafficking or intimate‑partner violence to apply to vacate sentences; Gardenis warned this change "may result in a decrease in restitution collections" because vacated sentences would remove previously imposed restitution orders. AB 1100 (Sharp‑Collins) — which would have made larger changes to victim compensation statutes — was held on the suspense file and will not move forward this year. SB 470 (Laird) would extend teleconferencing provisions for state bodies to Jan. 1, 2030; it was in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Contract report: Deputy Executive Officer Sean Ramirez presented an informational contract report listing awards to trauma recovery centers and standard contracts for IT and postal services; the board received the report and no action was required.

Board votes at the meeting: The board approved routine motions on meeting minutes and later took a roll call to approve 225 items from the victim compensation program (numbers 1–226 with item 12 excepted) in open session following a closed session; recorded votes on these routine items were "Aye" by Member Becton, Member Johnson and Chair Ravel. Earlier in the meeting, the board approved the May 15, 2025 meeting minutes by roll call (Becton, Johnson, Ravel "Aye"). The board also adopted the hearing officer’s proposed decision in the Penal Code section 4900 matter of Humberto Duran (see separate article).

Questions from members focused on the timing and risk around federal grants, the statutory provision Gledhill cited that would allow a reduction in the maximum payout if federal funding were not received, and whether the board would be informed or take action if such a payout change were proposed. Gledhill said the board would be informed and added the statutory provision would only be used if necessary.

The board adjourned the afternoon session at the close of public comment and scheduled its next meeting for Sept. 18, 2025.