AB 884 will be heard April 9!!
Click here to find out how to show up! We need at least 100 people for maximum impact!
Please continue calling and writing. Please do so if you haven’t already.
Here is the committee’s report:
AB 884 – Assy Pub Safe – Analysis – April 2019_00001
Comments regarding the proposed bill start at the bottom of page 4 and a list of supporters and opponents is on page 10 (final page). Please note that there are only 3 supporters, 2 of which are law enforcement organizations. Also please note that there are 12 opposing organizations, including ACSOL and the CA Sex Offender Management Board, as well as 78 private individuals. The strongest arguments against the bill as reported in the analysis are attributed to the CA Public Defenders Association including the comment that the bill “is a m
ACTION #1: SHOW UP:
Click here to find out how to show up!
ACTION #2: CALL NOW:
See this letter for talking points:
AB 884 – Letter to Asy Pub Saf – March 2019_00001
Assembly Public Safety Committee Members – District – Phone
Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (Chair) Dem – 59 (916) 319-2059
Tom Lackey (Vice Chair) Rep – 36 (916) 319-2036
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Dem – 16 (916) 319-2016
Tyler Diep Rep – 72 (916) 319-2072
Sydney Kamlager-Dove Dem – 54 (916) 319-2054
Bill Quirk Dem – 20 (916) 319-2020
Miguel Santiago Dem – 53 (916) 319-2053
Buffy Wicks Dem – 15 (916) 319-2015
ACTION #3: WRITE LETTERS NOW:
Letters should be addressed to Committee Chairman Reginald Jones-Sawyer and sent by FAX to (916) 319-3745. There are many online fax services such as free faxzero.com
The mailing address for the Assembly Public Safety Committee is:
1020 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Mail soon to get there in time!
Click here to download a sample letter:
AB 884 – Letter to Asy Pub Saf – March 2019_00001
Below is the plain text of the body of the letter. Please just use it for your ideas. If you copy and paste a lot of it into your letter, they won’t treat your letter as important as one you word yourself:
AB 884 – Letter to Asy Pub Saf – March 2019_00001 – Plain text body of letter [Word]
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This is more important than almost any other bill we have fought!
In related news, the CA Sex Offender Management Board agreed today to formally oppose AB 884. The Board will send a letter to the Committee this week and a board representative may testify during the futurehearing.
“If AB 884 becomes law, 50 percent of those who would benefit from the Tiered Registry Law would be harmed,” stated CASOMB member Janet Neeley. “The board made a stand during negotiations of the Tiered Registry Bill and threatened to withdraw its support at that time if the bill included assignment of those convicted of PC 288(a) to Tier 3.”
“Passage of AB 884 would undo everything we worked for in supporting a tiered registry,” stated CASOMB Vice Chair Brenda Crowding.
“We don’t want to abandon the tiered registry,” stated CASOMB member Judge Brett Morgan. “Sending a letter to the legislature about AB 884 would educate legislators about the potential significant impact of that bill.”
Due to the one week delay, there is additional time to send letters to and call the offices of the eight Committee members. There is also additional time to make plans to participate in the future hearing.
“If Assembly Bill 884 becomes law, it will gut the Tiered Registry Law,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “Specifically, the bill would move more than 40,000 people from Tier 2 that requires 20 years of registration to Tier 3 that requires lifetime registration.”
The Tiered Registry Law was passed by the legislature and signed into law in October 2017 and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2021. Under the Tiered Registry Law, individuals required to register would be assigned to one of three tiers based upon the offense for which they were convicted. Tier assignment would determine when an individual is eligible to petition for removal from the registry. Specifically, individuals assigned to Tier 1 could be eligible to petition for removal after 10 years while individuals assigned to Tier 2 could be eligible to petition for removal after 20 years. Individuals assigned to Tier 3 would not be eligible to petition for removal because they would be required to register for a lifetime.
The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (Republican, Murrieta) on February 20.
This bill would assign to Tier 3 individuals convicted of violating PC 288(a), lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14.
I will make calls this morning. I know, this bill has to be stopped, but even more so, the registry needs to be abolished. I don’t want to hear one more time that the registry is not punishment. We have police knocking on our door, yelling and making a scene to do one of their unnecessary so called “compliance checks”. Our registration is current and up to date. We are not on the public site, not on probation or parole. It IS punishment because they don’t verify address via in person intrusions for Drug Dealers, DUI offenders, assault offenders, etc, etc. If they want to get away with calling this administrative, they would need to do it with anyone and everybody who ever committed a crime. So, yes, it IS punishment, and we are being singled out. The registry has to go. Just like with any other “crime”, they just need to re-arrest a person if they were to re-offend. With this bill, the registry and public disclosure will multiply by so much, and that is exactly what the Tiered Registry was going to try to get away from. The registry is too large as it is, and it becomes unmanageable. With this new bill, people will be exposed who have lived a law abiding life for years, sometimes decades. Do they really want to “scare” so many people by showing them that they live next to “horrible” people who never caused a problem or concern in the past? It is absolutely mind boggling how supposedly smart people can even want revert to mass hysteria that is completely unnecessary. With all the postings, people feel safer? They still don’t know if the person to their left who is not on the registry is a future criminal or a current criminal. We all just have to be vigilant and protect ourselves as much as we can, and mostly, use common sense. No registry will ever accomplish this. Te registry HAS to go.
I shall be there.
Now wait a minute, the tier one states,
(1) (A) A tier one offender is subject to registration for a minimum of 10 years. A person is a tier one offender if the person is required to register for conviction of a misdemeanor described in subdivision (c), or for conviction of a felony described in subdivision (c) that was not a serious or violent felony as described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 or subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7.
(B) This paragraph does not apply to a person who is subject to registration pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3).
Of course tier two has that same caveat.
There are a lot of offenses in section (c) that do not fall under a violent or serious offense based on subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 or subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7
Then it goes on to state,
(3) A tier three offender is subject to registration for life. A person is a tier three offender if any one of the following applies
(C) The person was convicted of violating any of the following:
And the goes on to list all the same offenses outlined in section (c).
Why is it even stated for tier one?,
felony described in subdivision (c) that was not a serious or violent felony as described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 or subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7.
What scandalous and BS deceptive language is gong on in this damn bill? They state in tier one and two that these people are in these tiers and describes who, but then states the paragraphs do not apply to those required to register for life according to paragraph 3. Then according to paragraph 3 (C) everyone is covered. WTF???? So they state, all these people are tier one or tier two if this and this and this applies, except for 99.9% that are covered in paragraph 3(C) who are tier three and required for life.
????????????????????????
Most of these offenses were not even considered ‘serious’ as outlined in Section 1192.7 let alone violent under Section 667.5, but yet they are tier three according to para 3 ?????? Either they are or are not.
Which is it?
This is going to be interesting if they are placing all these non-serious and non-violent offenses into this tier three. There is absolutely, without even being questionable, NO rational basis at all for such a move.
Because of work and other obligations I will not be there for the hearing, however, I have faxed my letter to the chairman, called all the member’s offices and prayed. I will be there is spirit and expect all is well. Safe travels for everyone traveling.
Janice, 2 more coming to the State Capital to help fight this. This is too important for us to stand on the sidelines. Sent my letters and plan to make the calls next week to the Assembly Public Safety Committee Members. Our Hotel is walking distance to the State Capital so hope to see some of you at the coffee shop before hand and walk with you to room 126. First time there for us! Cheers.
Letters sent, calls made. If you haven’t acted, you will have no one to blame but yourself if this goes bad.
They say life comes down to a few big moments. This one is HUGE!!
My letter and fax just went out today. Sadly, I cannot participate because I am a freshly minted RSO on probation and not allowed to “gather” with other offenders. I have encouraged those I know to also write or fax in their letters for NO on AB 884 and try to help stop this insanity. I have been spending much time reading all the threads on ACSOL and educating myself on just what a mountain we face as RSO’s. I cant tell you how grateful I am to Janice and the others for the efforts and for fighting on behalf of the powerless, the oppressed, the minimized. As soon as I am able I will be donating what I can when I can to help you in this endeavor… and the MOMENT I am off probation (or approved to attend) I will be there in-person full force. We must stand up to this. We must fight against these crazy laws that continue to penalize and force us to live in fear and shame!
Hello i found some interesting information on the Doj they have a report stating recidivism rates are 3.5% and yet don’t say anything about but yet it is on there website for anyone to see & it’s on Smart.gov website almost identical report 3.5% I don’t understand why then is the registry is still up n running?
I am embarrassed to ask this very insignificant question when we are dealing with such a serious life-altering event, but would anyone like to hazard a guess as to when the hearing on AB 884 be over? Will it be the first item heard, or could it be down the list?
It would be helpful if I could walk to the hearing from my hotel to avoid downtown parking, but I would have to be back to the hotel by noon. If there is a consensus that the hearing could run long, I’ll just have to check out early and find downtown parking.
Thanks!
Making my phone calls to the PSC members this morning. The person answering the phone for Bill Quirk said “Oh 884 we have had a lot of calls on this” Love it Keep it up!
I spoke to the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee today and was told that they have received a LOT of letters opposing AB 884. Good job everyone! Keep sending letters by FAX to the Committee this week at 916-319-3745 to make sure they are included in the committee’s final count. Also keep making calls to the eight members of the Committee asking that they oppose AB 884. I made my calls this morning and it took less than 10 minutes. The offices only want to know a name, city and that you oppose the bill. They don’t want to know why. Hope to see you on March 26!
I made my phone calls requesting the Assembly members oppose AB-884 and, as an added kicker, I mentioned that I would be attending the meeting in person in order to address the Committee directly.
Also, the fellow I spoke with at Assemblywoman Kamlager-Dove’s office said they had been receiving a lot of calls on this Bill and all of the callers were stating opposition to the Bill.
I am not from California, but I see how massively important this is….. We ARE all in this together no matter what state we live in. Those of you who do live in CA. Need to show up, write letters, make phone calls……FIGHT…….!!! From what I have seen, California tends to be the leading edge in negative legislative action, monkey see – monkey do for many other states in our less than perfect union. Believe me, as soon as I here of such a sick proposal coming to my state, I WILL BE THERE TO FIGHT!
I made my phone calls this morning to the Committee Members opposing AB-884. Several staffers mentioned they had been receiving a lot of calls opposing this Bill. Hopefully the calls, letters and showing up at the Capital will make a difference.
Letters faxed!
The fact that the Board is on the side of common sense, and it was a cause they championed, combined with our cacophonous voice, Janice’s persistence and the political climate (Melendez being a Republican in a Democrat-dominated arena) should bode well for the outcome. Remember, this was championed by a very popular member, Weiner, and signed into law by Brown, after MUCH deliberation and work. She has an uphill battle to defeat dignity and common sense.
I had a feeling this would get postponed, like other bills in the past that we all prep to go to.
Is this a tactic that politicians use to throw a wrench on our plans? (day-offs requested, babysitters scheduled, hotels booked).
Truth is the light, the dark room are all the un-Constitutional sex offense laws, and the rats are the liars that pushes these laws. When truth enters the dark room the rats scatter. The rats are trying to keep the door close for another week for their survival.
Sent letters and made calls
This is great to witness. This is showing that this group is BEYOND afraid anymore. The system has betrayed the American Constitution on purpose. It is time to make THEM afraid before they can EVER continue to disrespect a group they have evilly disenfranchised and banished and expect a million Americans PLUS their families to sit down and do nothing as they have been backed into the corner. Make them think TWICE next time.
Just booked my flights to and from Sacramento to stand up and speak out with you April 2nd!
Also offered to share my hotel room on the link. Gotta be there!!!!
Just for clarification, should we write and call EACH committee representative, or do I just make one call and write one letter to them all?
Thanks.
So, for all involved,
I wanted to share my letter with you all before I send it off to CA Congress. It’s my first business letter to government: I’m sure there’s room for improvement. Please let me know what sounds good, what points can be elaborated, what omissions should be made, etc.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mH1vcJYtmCUDYmMExEF7bJqz7TVaN5rjVki9jRBQWd0/edit?usp=sharing
I’m fighting the fight with you, even if I’m not a 288 convict. We will triumph together!
– AC
p. s. I haven’t yet said it directly: I owe a great deal of my life and debt to Janice Bellucci, whose heroic activism has given so much hope to those feeling hopeless in the face of legalized institutional prejudice; and changed so many lives for the better.
Letter faxed! If anyone needs ideas on how to customize their letter using the template that Janice shared, here’s mine you can use:
Dear Chairman Jones-Sawyer , Vice Chairman Lackey and Committee Members:
I am writing to you in strong opposition to Assembly Bill (AB) 884 which is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Public Safety Committee on April 2, 2019. As currently written, AB 884 would gut the Tiered Registry Law which is to take effect in 2021 by moving more than 40,000 individuals from Tier 2 (20 years registration) to Tier 3 (lifetime registration) .
On March 13, 2019, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws and Attorney at Law, Janice M. Bellucci, sent to your office her letter opposing Assembly Bill 884 in anticipation of the March 27, 2019 hearing, which was then continued to April 2, 2019. Ms. Bellucci’s arguments in opposition as detailed in that letter is incorporated herein as reference and is attached to this letter.
By way of background, I am a U.S. citizen and have lived, gone to school, and worked in California pretty much all of my life. I am also on the California sex offender registration website, since 2009, for one conviction of Penal Code section 288, subd. (a), which occurred in 2006. I had no priors on my record before this conviction. I served about two and a half years in prison and was on parole for five years following that without any violations. Since 2009 I dutifully carried out my registration obligations where I lived and went to school in compliance with the law.
First and foremost, I made a mistake, and I regret it to this day. Long story short, I had mistakenly believed the victim to be 19 years old when she in fact turned out to be 13 years old and had an inappropriate relationship with her. This mistake cost me and my family dearly and even more so being on the sex offender registry. A few months ago, I had an opportunity to reach out to the victim and apologized to her in person. Gratefully, she accepted my apology, and now we are even friends. I have learned from my mistake and have been living a law abiding since my conviction.
Being on the registry with my name, photo, address, and other personal information posted online for everyone to see causes me stress, anxiety, and fear, especially when I read in the news that someone on the registry, including their family member, was harassed, hurt, or even killed because a vigilante found their name on the sex offender website. I also feel stress, anxiety, and fear when I want to move or travel in state, out of state, or overseas for business or vacation. I have also lost jobs and opportunities because of being on the registry. My family has lost business opportunities because of me being on the registry. These real life struggles I and my family face regularly are largely in part of my being on the registry, so I was relieved when the California senators and assembly persons passed a tiered registry, which took a lot of effort, insight, and courage on their part. Now, all that hard work is being threatened with Assembly Bill 884. Hopefully, I put a human face to the realities that I, others, and families of registrants face regularly due to being on the registry.
For the reasons outlined above I strongly urge you and all the members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee to vote “NO ” on AB 884. Thank you.
WRITE LETTERS NOW, PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY!!! WE MUST TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS DELAY AND SHARE OUR FEELINGS ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OUR LOVED ONES. IT APPEARS THAT MESSAGE IS GETTING THROUGH!!!