The following is reprinted with permission from the March 2012 edition of the Friends Committee on Legislation of California’s newsletter, FCLCA.org.
Senate Bill 9, by Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, came within one vote of passing the full Assembly late last summer. This legislation – which permits prisoners serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for offenses committed as a minor to apply for a reduced 25-year-to-life sentence – is still on the Assembly floor. It is still a couple votes short of passage and will be reconsidered when it is believed there are 41 votes to pass and send the bill to the governor.
Assembly Bill 1270, by Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, would require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to permit media representatives to interview prisoners in person and would forbid retaliation against prisoners for participating in interviews or communicating with members of the media.
Assembly Bill 1577, by Toni Atkins, D-Sacramento, would require the Department of Motor Vehicles and CDCR to enter into interagency agreements in order to assist prisoners in obtaining a valid California driver’s license or identification card immediately upon their release from prison. CDCR could issue a parolee identification card, which the DMV would honor for the purposes of applying for a driver’s license, or identification card. Having a valid identification card is necessary for applying for a job, establishing a checking account and obtaining housing.
Assembly Bill 1831, by Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, prohibits local government agencies from asking about an applicant’s criminal history on an employment application. Agencies could only inquire as to an applicant’s criminal history after the agency has determined that an applicant meets the minimum requirements.
Senate Bill 983, by Toni Strickland, R-Thousand Oaks, would authorize county boards of supervisors to contract with out-of-state correctional facilities to house local jail prisoners.
Senate Bill 1060, by Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, would end the lifetime ban on receiving CalWORKS benefits for persons with felony drug convictions.
Senate Bill 1441, by Bill Emerson, R-Riverside, would require persons convicted of felonies otherwise punishable in a county jail who are sentenced to more than three years to serve their sentence in state prison.
Senate Bill 1506, by Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would reduce simple drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor.
