SB 672: The Youth Rehabilitation and Opportunity Act.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires the Board of Parole Hearings to conduct a youth offender parole hearing for offenders sentenced to state prison who committed specified crimes when they were under 25 years of age. Existing law makes a person who was convicted of a controlling offense that was committed when the person was under 18 years of age and for which the sentence is life without the possibility of parole eligible for release on parole at a youth offender hearing by the board during the person’s 25th year of incarceration. Existing law specifies that these provisions do not alter the rights of a victim at a parole hearing.

Under existing law, a murder perpetrated by specified means or under certain circumstances is defined as murder of the first degree. Existing law, as added by Proposition 7, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the November 7, 1978, statewide general election, requires that a person convicted of first-degree murder be subject to death or confinement in prison for a term of life without the possibility of parole in any case in which specified special circumstances are charged and found to be true. Proposition 7 does not provide for amendment by the Legislature.

This bill, the Youth Rehabilitation and Opportunity Act, would instead make a person who was convicted of a controlling offense that was committed when the person was 25 years of age or younger and for which they were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole eligible for parole after their 25th year of incarceration, except as specified. The bill would require the board to complete, by January 1, 2028, all hearings for individuals who are or will be entitled to have their parole suitability considered at a youth offender parole hearing by these provisions, as specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 3, 2026June 9 set for final hearing canceled at the request of author.
2. July 1, 2025July 1 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author.
3. June 13, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
4. June 11, 2025June 17 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
5. June 9, 2025Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
6. June 4, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
7. June 3, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 24. Noes 11. Page 1450.) Ordered to the Assembly.
8. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. May 23, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
10. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1209.) (May 23).
11. May 16, 2025Set for hearing May 23.
12. May 5, 2025May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.