40 New California Laws Just Signed By Gov. Brown

As we turned the page into September, California's governor got a head start on the month by signing more than three dozen bills into law on Friday. Among the 40 pieces of legislation that Jerry Brown approved was a bill aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants who assist law enforcement in solving a crime. AB 493 prohibits police from detaining or turning over an individual who is a crime victim or witness "exclusively for any actual or suspected immigration violation."

"We need to remove the fear and uncertainty that is rampant in our immigrant communities and provide protection to undocumented individuals when they seek to cooperate with law enforcement on any crime,” said Assemblyman Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, a Democrat from Los Angeles, who authored AB 493.

Jones-Sawyer touted the bill as a way of making California safer for everyone.

"By preventing witnesses and victims of crimes from being detained and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it will help law enforcement with their investigations and will promote social responsibility and improve police community relationships," he said.

Another bill Brown approved has to do with the release of grand jury transcripts in relation to proceedings involving police officers. AB 1024 was authored by Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, a Republican from Roseville.

"This bill would require a court to disclose all or a part of a grand jury indictment proceeding transcript, excluding the grand jury’s private deliberations and voting, if the grand jury decides not to return an indictment in a grand jury inquiry into an offense that involves a shooting or use of excessive force by a peace officer, as defined, that led to the death of a person being detained or arrested by the peace officer, except as specified," the bill's text states in part.

On Friday, Brown took action on the following 40 total pieces of legislation (click on the link to read the full bill text):

• AB 89 by Assemblymember Marc B. Levine (D-Marin County) – Psychologists: suicide prevention training.
• AB 187 by Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) – Political Reform Act of 1974: local ballot measure contribution and expenditure reporting.
• AB 191 by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) – Mental health: involuntary treatment.
• AB 275 by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) – Long-term care facilities: requirements for changes resulting in the inability of the facility to care for its residents.
• AB 297 by Assemblymember Marc B. Levine (D-Marin County) – Alcoholic beverages: licenses: wine and food cultural museum and educational center.
• AB 356 by Assemblymember Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals) – Human remains: disposition.
• AB 376 by Assemblymember Rocky Chávez (R-Oceanside) – Veterans benefits: veteran farmers or ranchers.
• AB 383 by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) – Civil actions: discovery status conference.
• AB 407 by Assemblymember Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals) – Fraternal fire insurers: coverage.
• AB 413 by Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) – Confidential communications: domestic violence.
• AB 468 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – Transit districts: prohibition orders.
• AB 475 by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) – Department of Technology.
• AB 493 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. (D-Los Angeles) – Crime: victims and witnesses: immigration violations.
• AB 508 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – Health care practitioners: student loans.
• AB 551 by Assemblymember Marc B. Levine (D-Marin County) – Political Reform Act of 1974: postemployment restrictions.
• AB 671 by Assemblymember Rocky Chávez (R-Oceanside) – Veterans: services.
• AB 679 by Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) – Public employees’ retirement: investments: security loans.
• AB 681 by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) – Teacher credentialing: teacher preparation outside of the United States: temporary certificates.
• AB 772 by Assemblymember Tom F. Daly (D-Anaheim) – Unclaimed property: publication of notice.
• AB 866 by Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-Templeton) – State highways: gateway monuments.
• AB 938 by Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) – Reinsurance.
• AB 979 by Assemblymember Tom W. Lackey (R-Palmdale) – Local agency formation commissions: district representation.
• AB 1024 by Assemblymember Kevin Kiley (R-Roseville) – Grand juries: peace officers: proceedings.
• AB 1027 by Assemblymember Dante Acosta (R-Santa Clarita) – Driver’s licenses: examinations: motorcycle licenses.
• AB 1086 by Assemblymember Tom F. Daly (D-Anaheim) – Housing: regional housing needs.
• AB 1115 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. (D-Los Angeles) – Convictions: expungement.
• AB 1142 by Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside) – High school diplomas: State Seal of Biliteracy: English learners.
• AB 1285 by Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) – Alcoholic Beverage Control Act: administrative hearings: records.
• AB 1303 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – Vehicles: window tinting.
• AB 1336 by Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) – California Workforce Development Board.
• AB 1355 by Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) – State parks: fees.
• AB 1387 by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) – Home medical device retail facility business: licensing: inspections.
• AB 1459 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) – Murder: peace officers.
• AB 1726 by the Committee on Health – Vital records: confidentiality.
• SB 365 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) – Regional park and open-space districts: County of Solano.
• SB 479 by Senator Mike L. Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga) – Mortgages: default procedures: trustee’s or attorney’s fees.
• SB 565 by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) – Mental health: involuntary commitment.
• SB 614 by Senator Robert M. Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) – Public transportation agencies: administrative penalties.
• SB 639 by Senator Robert M. Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) – Property taxation: assessment: electric generation facilities.
• SB 747 by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) – State military: officer commissions.

Image credit: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press