Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed 67 bills. Here are ones regarding the criminal justice system, or introduced by Inland Empire representatives.
SB 1327
Firearms
Allows Californians to bring private lawsuits against a person who breaks specific types of gun laws to gain $10,000 for each weapon on victory.
The crimes to sue under include distributing or transporting firearms without serial numbers into the state, and selling or purchasing firearm parts that are not federally regulated. Licensed firearm dealers may also be sued by individuals if they sell to people under 21 years old.
The bill is modeled on and tied to the Texas abortion law, which allows private lawsuits against people who break that state’s anti-abortion law. If the Texas law is ruled invalid, SB 1327 would be automatically repealed.
Senators Robert Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) and Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) introduced the bill, with 11 coauthors.
The authors wrote in a Senate report that the Supreme Court does not recognize a constitutional right to own, manufacture or sell an illegal assault weapon or a ghost gun.
“Violent, gun-related crime is skyrocketing across the state. Continuing California’s record as a pioneer in common sense gun reform, SB 1327 offers a new tool to combat the rise in gun violence and save lives – a private enforcement scheme,” the authors are quoted in the report.
The American Civil Liberties Union California Action, in opposition, said the new bill is as legally unsound as the Texas law.
“Despite being framed as a gun regulation, we understand that this bill is sponsored by Governor Newsom – knowing that it is an attack on the Constitution – in a proxy battle meant to deter the United States Supreme Court from upholding a virtually identical law enacted in Texas to rescind abortion rights,” they are quoted in the report.
Inland Empire votes:
Sens. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) and Connie Leyva (D-Chino), and Assemblymembers Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton), James Ramos (D-Highland), Jose Medina (D-Riverside), Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) and Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) voted for the bill.
Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) and Assemblymembers Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), Thurston Smith (R-Hesperia) and Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) voted against the bill.
Senator Richard Roth (Riverside) and Assemblymembers Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) and Phillip Chen (R-Yorba Linda) did not vote.
AB 1641
Sexually violent predators
Sexually violent predators will be GPS tracked during their year of conditional release after commitment.
The author, Assemblymember and attorney Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego), told the Senate the bill will codify best practices.
“Because of the violent and heinous nature of an SVP’s criminal conduct, it is important that the state provide clear statutory requirements in order to protect public safety,” Maienschein said in a Senate report.
The American Civil Liberties Union California Action opposed the bill, saying not all conditionally released sexual predators will need to be supervised with GPS.
“This practice not only unnecessarily infringes upon the liberty of individuals who could be safely supervised without it, but also needlessly increases the cost to the state of providing supervision,” they said in the Senate report.
Inland Empire votes:
Every Inland Empire representative voted for the bill, except for Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), who did not vote.
AB 1619
Elections
Voter registration applications will inform applicants that their signature on vote by mail ballots will be compared against signatures in their voter registration record.
Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) wrote the bill.
In a Senate report, she said the change helps reduce high rejection rates for mismatched signatures by reminding people their voter registration signature should match their later signatures.
Inland Empire votes:
Assemblymembers Jose Medina (D-Riverside) and Phillip Chen (R-Yorba Linda) voted against the bill.
Cervantes did not vote.
The rest of the Inland Empire’s representatives voted for the bill.
AB 1968
Cal State sexual assault guidance
California State University campuses will need to develop a webpage dedicated to informational guidance to campus members who have been sexually assaulted. The page must address reporting the sexual assault to advocates, health care providers and law enforcement, and collecting evidence of the assault.
Assemblymember Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) wrote the bill.
One in five female college-age survivors of sexual assault receive help from a victim service agency, and the same percent make a report to law enforcement.
“The disparagement between the prevalence of sexual assault and use of resources including law enforcement is disturbing. This signals a significant disconnect between what resources are available, student’s knowledge of resources, and how students ultimately choose to utilize resources,” Seyarto said in a Senate report.
Inland Empire votes:
All Inland Empire representatives voted for the bill, except for Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), who did not vote.
