***Senate Public Safety Committee Hearing on May 12*** – The California legislature yesterday struck a blow against all registered citizens. That blow is passage of Senate Bill 267 (SB 267) by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. Despite testimony in opposition to the bill from the ACLU, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Alameda County and California RSOL, the Committee passed the bill unanimously.
If SB 267 becomes law, cities and counties will be authorized to prohibit registered citizens from being present in or even near public places (parks, beached, libraries, museums, etc.) as well as private places (movie theaters, fast food restaurants, bowling alleys, etc.).
If SB 267 becomes law, registered citizens will again be required to navigate a minefield of local laws for which no signs have been posted. If SB 267 becomes law, registered citizens could pay the price of spending up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both for each violation of any one of those laws.
All is not lost. There is hope. We have three opportunities to stop SB 267 from becoming law although each step is increasingly difficult.
First, SB 267 could be stopped at the Senate Public Safety Committee hearing on April 29. California RSOL lobbied this week in the offices of the members of that committee and will testify at that hearing. More needs to be done, however, and it needs to be done by YOU! Yes, you, who are reading this column.
YOU need to write and send a letter to every member of the Senate Public Safety Committee and you need to do it today. After you have written and sent the letter, you need to call the Senators’ offices. There is no time to waste.
Second, SB 267 could be stopped on the floor of the Senate. This is a lot more difficult than sending a letter and making a phone call. In fact, it will require at least 21 Senators to vote in opposition to the bill.
Finally, SB 267 could be stopped in the Governor’s office. This will be the most difficult task as the Governor is not known for his support of registered citizens.
We can do this! There are more than 100,000 registered citizens in this state and each citizen has at least two family members or friends who could join them. Let’s make our voices heard in the State Capitol!!
[Attached is a draft letter (Senate Letter – SB 267 – April 2015) to the Senate Public Safety Committee and below a list of its members including mailing addresses and phone numbers]– Janice Bellucci
Read all of Janice’s Journal
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CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Senator Loni Hancock, Chair
State Capitol, Room 2082
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4009
Senator Joel Anderson, Co-Chair
State Capitol, Room 5052
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4038
Senator Mark Leno
State Capitol, Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4011
Senator Carol Liu
State Capitol, Room 5097
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4025
Senator Mike McGuire
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4002
Senator Bill Monning
State Capitol, Room 313
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4017
Senator Jeff Stone
State Capitol, Room 4062
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4028
WHAT DOES local agency is not preempted by state law from enacting MEAN?
Bam… Took 15 minutes total..Some ask for my name, gave it to them… Some ask for my zip code, gave that to them… Some ask for the city… that was fast…
All my letters were signed, sealed and hand delivered to the above senators two weeks ago. I just completed my telephone calls a few minutes ago. It sounds like they are certainly busy taking calls and adding opposers to the list.
Made my calls during lunch today – five minutes!! Some asked what city, some didn’t and only one asked if I wanted to leave my name.
OK; made my calls to all the senators offices and it took less than 15 min. Had a family member call too. My thoughts and prayers will be with Janice et al for the rest of the day, as well as tonight and tomorrow. I urge everyone to call. It’s quick and painless. If anyone reading this thinks they don’t need to call, I’ll remind you that this is for freedom and truth, as well as what is right. I believe WE CAN make a difference!
called, then sat around with four friends while they called. 30 minutes well spent.
(c) (1) A local agency is not preempted by state law from enacting and enforcing an ordinance that restricts a person required to register pursuant to Section 290 for an offense committed against a minor from being present at schools, parks, day care centers, or other locations where children regularly gather within the local agency’s jurisdiction.
(2) A local agency may adopt ordinances, rules, or regulations that are more restrictive than state law relating to a person’s ability to be present at schools, parks, day care centers, or other locations where children regularly gather within the local agency’s jurisdiction when the person is required to register pursuant to Section 290 for an offense committed against a minor.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, “local agency” means a city, county, or city and county.
so I guess what this means is a 290 rso, cannot be “PRESENT” at a school, park, day care or place where children are at. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE BILL THAT SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT PROXIMITY, JUST PRESENCE!!!!
I made all seven calls during my lunch hour, and like some said, they only asked for the Zip Code or City. One did not ask anything, and I asked her if she needed my Zip or city, and she said no since they are only counting the votes. She said “this one is a popular one today” and I replied: “That’s good”. I hope the popular means in our favor. Everyone was polite and thanked me for taking the time to call the Senator’s office. I hope all goes well tomorrow. Fingers crossed, as always.