Public Safety Committee Chairman Bill Quirk stopped Senate Bill 448 from being passed in the Assembly yesterday when he refused to conduct a hearing on that bill. He took that action despite a Rules Committee ruling that suspended both an Assembly rule and the State Constitution. “Chairman Quirk is to be commended for his courage and his integrity,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “He protected the U.S. Constitution as well as the civil rights of registered citizens when he stopped SB 448.” Prior to the Chairman’s act, SB 448…
Read MoreCategory: ACSOL
Public Safety Committee to Hear SB 448 Today (Friday, September 11 – 11:30 am)
The Assembly Public Safety Committee will conduct a hearing today, at 11:30 am, regarding SB 448 which would require some registered citizens to disclose their internet identifiers. The hearing is the result of a decision by the Rules Committee. At this time, the Committee is not accepting verbal comments regarding the bill but written comments may be sent by E-mail to committee staffer Martin Vindiola at [email protected]. “The legislative process is railroaded in its consideration of SB 448,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “The requirement to disclose internet identifiers…
Read MoreCIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY JANICE M. BELLUCCI NAMED TO TOP 100 LAWYERS IN CALIFORNIA
The Daily Journal newspaper will recognize civil rights champion Janice M. Bellucci as one of their prestigious “Top 100” most influential attorneys in California at on September 9, 2015. The editors annually recognize elite lawyers whose work has the greatest impact on the legal industry and modern society. Candidates are chosen from thousands of submissions every year. The Daily Journal profile acknowledged Bellucci’s extensive work to protect the U.S. Constitution by restoring the civil rights of sex offenders (“registrants”). Bellucci’s accomplishments include filing more than 35 federal and state lawsuits,…
Read MoreGROVER BEACH REPEALS RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS FOLLOWING LAWSUIT CHALLENGE
The City Council of Grover Beach, in a vote of 5 to 0, voted on September 8 to repeal a city ordinance that prohibited California sex offenders (“registrants”) from living within 2,000 feet of any school, park, or day care center. The action follows a lawsuit filed on June 17 by California Reform Sex Offender Laws President and attorney Janice Bellucci on behalf of registrant Frank Lindsay who has resided in Grover Beach for 18 years. “This decision is important because it recognizes that residency restrictions do not increase public…
Read MoreSenate Passes Internet Identifier Bill (SB 448)
By a vote of 39 to 0, the Senate passed internet identifier bill SB 448 on September 2. The bill is now eligible for consideration by the Assembly. “We must continue to assert pressure upon the Assembly to stop this bill,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “This bill has been rushed through the legislative process and needs more careful consideration.” The legislature is scheduled to end its deliberations for the calendar year on September 11. In order for SB 448 to be passed by the Assembly, the bill would…
Read MoreSenate Appropriations Committee Approves SB 448
In a vote of 7 to 0, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senate Bill 448 (SB 448) on August 27 by releasing it from the committee’s suspense file. The next step for the bill is a vote on the floor of the Senate next week (Monday, August 31) where it is expected to pass. After passage in the Senate, the bill will be referred to two committees in the Assembly — Public Safety and Appropriations. “Senate Bill 448 must be stopped,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “Although the bill…
Read MoreJudge Denies TRO, Schedules New Hearing on October 1 [updated with media]
An Orange County Superior Court judge denied a temporary restraining order (TRO) requested by Richard Linington, a registered citizen, and Michelle Moreno, his fiancée, during a hearing on August 19 that would have prevented the enforcement of new residency restrictions in the City of Cypress. Also during the hearing, the judge recommended that the City refrain from enforcing the restrictions until an October 1 hearing on a preliminary injunction. “The City of Cypress has an opportunity to maintain the status quo by choosing not to enforce the new ordinance until…
Read MoreSB 448 scheduled for hearing August 24
The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider Senate Bill 448 (SB 448) during a hearing on August 24. If passed, the bill would require registered citizens to disclose internet identifiers to law enforcement officials. The Senate Public Safety Committee passed SB 448 unanimously based in part upon a promise by the bill’s author to amend the bill. According to committee staff, the bill must be amended to limit those who must disclose to an individual convicted of an offense that involved use of the internet. “Senate Bill 448 must be stopped,”…
Read MoreREGISTERED CITIZEN SUES CITY OF CYPRESS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE LIVING WITH FIANCEE [updated with media]
A lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court on August 13 challenges a new sex offender (“registrant”) ordinance in the City of Cypress that would force registrant Richard Linington to leave the home of his fiancée where he has been living since 2011. The ordinance, which is scheduled to become effective on August 26, 2015, prohibits registrants from living within 1,000 feet of any school, park, or day care center. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would maintain the status quo by preventing the ordinance from taking…
Read MoreSex Offender Sues Arcadia Over Residency Restrictions
Despite revisions last year to an ordinance that severely limits housing options for potential residents convicted of sex crimes, a registered sex offender has filed a lawsuit against the city of Arcadia that seeks to repeal the law entirely. Recent state court decisions have challenged similar ordinances in other California municipalities, as advocates for sex offenders’ constitutional rights have over the last several years filed lawsuits aimed at rolling back what they claim are unfairly restrictive and discriminatory enforcement actions by Arcadia and a number of other locales statewide. Full…
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting in San Diego – September 26
Please join us in San Diego for a monthly meeting on Saturday, September 26, 10 am. The meeting will take place at Cal Western Law School, 225 Cedar Street, San Diego. We will focus on current topics, including pending legislation and legal actions as well as offer an opportunity for networking with others. We welcome registrants, friends and family and other supporters to attend. The meeting is off-limits to media and government officials in order to ensure everyone’s privacy. There is no charge to attend. Show up, Stand Up, Speak…
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting in Los Angeles – October 24
California RSOL will return its monthly meeting to Los Angeles on October 24. As usual, the location is the ACLU Building at 1313 W. 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Start time is 10 am. We will focus on current topics, including pending legislation and legal actions as well as offer an opportunity for networking with others. We welcome registrants, friends and family and other supporters to attend. The meeting is off-limits to media and government officials in order to ensure everyone’s privacy. There is no charge to attend. Show…
Read MoreValidity of sex offender residency restrictions under fire again
Suit against Arcadia says exclusion zones made it impossible for plaintiff to find housing The constitutionality of sex offender residency restrictions is under further scrutiny in Arcadia following a lawsuit filed Monday by attorney Janice Bellucci, president of California Reform Sex Offender Laws. The suit, which comes months after the state Supreme Court ruled that blanket residency restrictions in San Diego County were unconstitutional, is the first in what Bellucci promised to be a “series” against Los Angeles County. “They have terrible residency restrictions which we’ve estimated prohibit registered citizens…
Read MoreCalifornia RSOL Joins National RSOL in Seattle
California RSOL joined national RSOL this week at the National Conference for State Legilsators (NCSL) in Seattle. More than 5,000 elected officials, staff and lobbyists attended this annual event. It is the third year national RSOL has had a booth at the conference. “The NCSL conference provided us with unique opportunities to meet with legislators and their stafff in an informal setting,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “We provided them with important facts regarding registered citizens such as the low rate of re-offense.” During the conference, a hot topic…
Read MoreCalifornia RSOL Leads Protest in Carson
California RSOL led a second protest in Carson to voice opposition to the city ordinance that prohibits all registered citizens from both visiting and residing near public and private places. The protest included a demonstration outside City Hall as well as inside a City Council meeting. “Carson is the only city in California that continues to prohibit registered citizens from visiting public places such as libraries and swimming pools as well as private places such as fast food restaurants,” stated California RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “These actions are unlawful because…
Read MoreSenate Committee Passes SB 448 after Author Promises to Amend
The Senate Public Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 448 in a vote of 7 to 0 after the bill’s author, Senator Ben Hueso (Democrat, San Diego), promised to amend it. According to Committee Chair Loni Hancock, the amendments are to include a narrowing of those to whom the bill would apply and a tiering so that the scope of the bill would be limited to high risk offenders. “The Senate Public Safety Committee acted recklessly in approving a bill based upon mere promises,” stated CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “The…
Read MoreSex offender sues city of Grover Beach
A Grover Beach man is suing the city, claiming its restrictions limiting where registered sex offenders can live are unconstitutional. The city attorney says the city will fight the lawsuit. … Bellucci and Lindsay filed the lawsuit against the city of Grover Beach on June 16. The city originally had until Thursday to file its official response to the suit but requested and was granted an extension to July 23. Full Article
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting August 29 in Berkeley
The last California RSOL meeting of the summer will take place in Berkeley on August 29, 2015. Please join us for networking, support and an update about CA RSOL’s effort to restore the Civil Rights for those required to register pursuant to PC 290. We welcome registrants, friends, family, supporters and pertinent service providers. Media and law enforcement are not invited in an effort to secure everyone’s privacy. The meeting will start at 10 am and is free of charge. The address is Berkeley Finnish Hall 1970 Chestnut Street 510-845-5352…
Read More