The Tiered Registry Bill is reborn. We now have a second chance to end a 70-year-old law that requires individuals to register for a lifetime, regardless of the nature of their offense, the amount of time that has passed and whether they have re-offended.
We almost lost this opportunity when Senator Ricardo Lara, the original author of the Tiered Registry Bill, withdrew his leadership. His withdrawal came less than three weeks before an important deadline, that is, consideration by the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Those who support the Tiered Registry Bill worked hard behind the scenes to find a new author during that limited period of time. Others worked hard to gain formal support for the bill from law enforcement, including the California Police Chiefs and the California District Attorneys Association.
In addition, it is reported that former state legislators, who understand the need for a Tiered Registry, helped to persuade the bill’s new author to pick up the leadership reins dropped by Senator Lara. Regardless of how and why it happened, the fact is that the Tiered Registry Bill has a new leader – Senator Scott Wiener – who was elected in 2016 and represents the City of San Francisco. Senator Wiener is a member of the State Capitol’s LGBT Caucus as well as a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and a former Deputy City Attorney.
Senator Wiener demonstrated great courage when he agreed to lead the Tiered Registry Bill. In addition, he sacrificed a bill on another subject that he had already introduced – Senate Bill 421 – in order to become the new author of this bill. He did so by removing the contents of his original bill and substituting the language of the Tiered Registry Bill.
Despite the obvious need to end the state’s lifetime registry, the Tiered Registry Bill is sure to attract opposition as it travels through the Senate and Assembly. There may, in fact, be efforts to significantly amend the bill in order to weaken its impact or its scope. We must remain vigilant in order to stop such efforts.
That is why those who will benefit from Senate Bill 421, including registrants and family members, must be heard in its support. The first test for the Tiered Registry Bill will be consideration by the Senate Public Safety Committee on April 25.
ACSOL leadership will be there. Will you?
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Janice:
Thank you.
Isn’t the Public Safety committee the same ones that shot us down for ab 558, not trying to be negative but realistic
im glad the bill is moving forward. I just hope it doesn’t hurt more than it helps…bill oriely fired from fox for sexual harassment claims..ha..another one spouting about how bad sex offenders are and pushing Jessica’s law gets a taste of his own medicine..people crying wolf the loudest are usually the ones in the hen house….to bad hes rich or he would be heading for list…
Does this new version of the tiered registry bill still offer a way for persons who were 1) convicted in California and who currently 2) live outside of California to petition for removal?
I tried to read through the text of this new version, and I can’t seem to find anything. It only says you can petition in the county in which you are currently registering.
Please tell me that this won’t be like the CoR and bar those who have moved out of state!
Thank you to Janice and company for your efforts on this. Any time our representatives have the opportunity to get involved in amendments, it has the potential to turn out badly. As the bill is currently written, there are flaws that none of us like. But as I see it, this is a first step for many people. I am hopeful that the amendments, which are sure to come, don’t make those flaws worse; or add new ones.
Back in the running, hope it goes further/far. Senate, Assembly, House, Gov. AT least it’s back and with a man that is not in fear. Thanks to those that encourage Sen. Wiener to take hold of the reins now. SB 421. April 25th-SAC. Thanks Janice and Team for the update at where we’re at currently. Thanks to Ari(a) as well.
I am seeking the same answer G4CHANGE. I currently have lived out of state for the last 8 years in the worst state known to the registry, Florida. I have a dream, that we will all no longer have to register, and I am trying to look at everything as positive as i can! It makes you want to just scream.
Another concern: saratso/static 99. High score can get someone into tier 3, regardless of crime. Static 99 risk factors harms young, gay, and non contact offenders more, so they have increased chance of being put into tier 3. Nothing fair about this considering a lot of people question the static’s accuracy. Static is never designed to be used more than 10 after offense free but will be used to label for lifetime? Where is the logic in this?
Interesting that State Sen. Ricardo Lara is the head of the LGBT Caucus, because the tiered registry bill as originally authored would almost singularly rely on the STATIC-99 assessment to determine which tier a registrant would be categorized under. I say “interesting” because the STATIC-99 – among its many flaws – is blatantly discriminatory against crimes of a homosexual nature.
I still don’t understand why if we’ve reduced a F to a M and set the M aside via 1203.4 process, then obtained a COR, why that wouldn’t automatically take one off of registration. The COR process was a very intense, stressful and intrusive process. This bill doesn’t even mention COR relief, why?
It is good to see the comments above. Janice and a growing number of advocates are fighting to change the draconian laws which fill us with such despair. Come to the meetings if you are able, come to LA in June, write those letters to our representatives and be heard!
Stay positive. The SARATSO certainly will need to be addressed/I’m 20 years out with an expunged offense! Secondly, how should a tiered bill address expunged offenses? We have people with 21-22 year old expunged misdemeanors/summary probation that are still treated like America’s most wanted! We have to still register, compliance checks, banned from International Traffic (not minor related) and prohibited from certain employment? That’s just the icing on the cake. Wake up California
Thanks Janice – how long is the hearing?
I must fly at noon tomorrow
You can watch live streaming video of both SB 26 and SB 421 from this Senate Page:
http://senate.ca.gov/calendar
Click on live streaming.
Starts at 8:30am