ARTICLE 14. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation [12838. - 12838.13.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 14.
in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838. Section 12838.

(a) There is hereby created in state government the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to be headed by a secretary, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall consist of Adult Operations, Adult Programs, Health Care Services, Juvenile Justice, the Board of Parole Hearings, the Board of Juvenile Hearings, the State Commission on Juvenile Justice, the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority, and the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Board. (b) The Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, may appoint three undersecretaries of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to Senate confirmation. The undersecretaries shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor. One undersecretary shall oversee administration, one undersecretary shall oversee health care services, and one undersecretary shall oversee operations for the department. (c) The Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, shall appoint a Chief for the Office of Victim Services, and a Chief for the Office of Correctional Safety, both of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.1. Section 12838.1.

(a) There is hereby created within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under the Undersecretary for Administration, the following divisions: (1) The Division of Enterprise Information Services, the Division of Facility Planning, Construction, and Management, and the Division of Administrative Services. Each division shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, subject to Senate confirmation, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (2) The Division of Correctional Policy Research and Internal Oversight. This division shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (b) There is hereby created in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under the Undersecretary for Health Care Services, the Division of Health Care Operations and the Division of Health Care Policy and Administration. Each division shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, subject to Senate confirmation, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (c) There is hereby created within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under the Undersecretary for Operations, the Division of Adult Institutions, the Division of Adult Parole Operations, the Division of Juvenile Justice, and the Division of Rehabilitative Programs. Each division shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, subject to Senate confirmation, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (d) The Governor shall, upon recommendation of the secretary, appoint four subordinate officers to the Division of Adult Institutions, subject to Senate confirmation, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Each subordinate officer appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall oversee an identified category of adult institutions, one of which shall be female offender facilities. (e) (1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, whenever the term “Chief Deputy Secretary for Adult Operations” appears in any statute, regulation, or contract, it shall be construed to refer to the Director of the Division of Adult Institutions. (2) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, whenever the term “Chief Deputy Secretary for Adult Programs” appears in any statute, regulation, or contract, it shall be construed to refer to the Director of the Division of Rehabilitative Programs. (3) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, whenever the term “Chief Deputy Secretary for Juvenile Justice” appears in any statute, regulation, or contract, it shall be construed to refer to the Director of the Division of Juvenile Justice.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.4. Section 12838.4.

The Board of Parole Hearings is hereby created. The Board of Parole Hearings shall be comprised of 21 commissioners, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, for three-year terms. The Board of Parole Hearings hereby succeeds to, and is vested with, all the powers, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction of the following entities, which shall no longer exist: Board of Prison Terms, Narcotic Addict Evaluation Authority, and Youthful Offender Parole Board. For purposes of this article, the above entities shall be known as “predecessor entities.”

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.5. Section 12838.5.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation hereby succeeds to, and is vested with, all the powers, functions, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction of the following entities, which shall no longer exist: Youth and Adult Correctional Agency, Department of Corrections, Department of the Youth Authority, Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training, Board of Corrections, and State Commission on Juvenile Justice, Crime and Delinquency Prevention. For purposes of this article, the above entities shall be known as “predecessor entities.”

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.6. Section 12838.6.

The following entities shall be continued in existence within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and shall retain existing functions, powers, responsibilities, and jurisdiction, except as expressly provided otherwise: California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority, California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Board, California Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision, and the Joint Venture Policy Advisory Board. For purposes of this article, these shall be known as “continuing entities.”

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.7. Section 12838.7.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and shall have all of the powers and authority which are conferred upon a head of a state department by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11150) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (b) Without limiting any other powers or duties, the secretary shall assure compliance with the terms of any state plan, memorandums of understanding, administrative order, interagency agreements, assurances, single state agency obligations, federal statute and regulations, and any other form of agreement or obligation that vital government activities rely upon, or are a condition to, the continued receipt by the department of state or federal funds or services. This includes, but is not limited to, the designation, appointment, and provision of individuals, groups, and resources to fulfill specific obligations of any agency, board, or department that is abolished pursuant to Section 12838.4 or 12838.5.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.8. Section 12838.8.

All regulations adopted by the predecessor entities, continuing entities, and any of their predecessors are expressly continued in force. Any statute, law, rule, or regulation now in force, or that may hereafter be enacted or adopted with reference to the predecessor entities and any of their predecessors shall mean the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Any action concerning these duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and functions shall not abate but shall continue in the name of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall be substituted for the predecessor entities and continuing entities by the court wherein the action is pending. The substitution shall not affect the rights of the parties to the action.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.9. Section 12838.9.

No contract, lease, license, or any other agreement to which the predecessor entities, continuing entities, and any of their predecessors are a party shall be void or voidable by reason of this measure, but shall continue in full force and effect, with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation assuming all of the rights, obligations, and duties of the predecessor entities. That assumption by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall not in any way affect the rights of the parties to the contract, lease, license, or agreement. Bonds issued by the predecessor entities, continuing entities, and any of their predecessors on or before July 1, 2005, shall become the indebtedness of any newly created entity. Any ongoing obligations or responsibilities of the predecessor entities, continuing entities, and any of their predecessors for managing and maintaining bond issuances shall be transferred to the newly created entity without impairment to any security contained in the bond instrument.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.10. Section 12838.10.

On and after July 1, 2005, the unencumbered balance of all money available for expenditure by the predecessor entities, continuing entities, and any of their predecessors in carrying out any functions transferred to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation by this measure shall be made available for the support and maintenance of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. All books, documents, records, and property of the predecessor entities shall be transferred to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.11. Section 12838.11.

On and after July 1, 2005, positions filled by appointment by the Governor in the predecessor entities or continuing entities shall be transferred to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Individuals in positions transferred pursuant to this section shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor, unless as otherwise expressly stated. Titles of positions transferred pursuant to this section shall be determined by the secretary with the approval of the Governor. Salaries of positions transferred shall remain at the level established pursuant to law on June 30, 2005.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.12. Section 12838.12.

(a) Any officer or employee of the predecessor entities who is engaged in the performance of a function specified in this reorganization plan and who is serving in the state civil service, other than as a temporary employee, shall be transferred to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation pursuant to the provisions of Section 19050.9. (b) Any officer or employee of the continuing entities who is engaged in the performance of a function specified in this reorganization plan and who is serving in the state civil service, other than as a temporary employee, shall continue such status with the continuing entity pursuant to the provisions of Section 19050.9. (c) The status, position, and rights of any officer or employee of the predecessor entities shall not be affected by the transfer and shall be retained by the person as an officer or employee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as the case may be, pursuant to the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except as to a position that is exempt from civil service.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.65. Section 12838.65.

During the closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice, the director shall have the authority to transfer powers, functions, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction of the division to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which shall succeed to, and be so vested, upon transfer. Upon final closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice, all remaining powers, functions, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction of the division shall succeed to, and be vested, with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Any action concerning the transferred powers, functions, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction shall not abate but shall continue in the name of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall be substituted for the Division of Juvenile Justice by the court wherein the action is pending.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12838.95. Section 12838.95.

No contract, lease, license, grant, or any other agreement to which the Division of Juvenile Justice is a party shall be void or voidable by reason of closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice, but shall continue in full force and effect, with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation assuming all of the rights, obligations, and duties of the Division of Juvenile Justice.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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