California Republicans urge governor to provide funding for public safety ballot measure

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — Bella knows how human traffickers can control their victims. She was one of them.

Trafficked as a minor and into her adulthood, Bella said she now must face her offender every six months in court. She battles over his attempts at increased custody rights over their children. Last year, a judge ordered her to provide financial assistance to her offender.

A judge determined the offender had a needs-based award of attorneys’ fees, as he claimed to have no job or income, Bella said later.

“We need to prevent traffickers from filing motions to drain victims’ resources,” said Bella, who gave only her first name.

Bella spoke Thursday morning in favor of Assembly Bill 1375, introduced by Assemblymember Josh Hoover, a Folsom Republican. The legislation would require a judge, before ruling on a child custody issue, to determine whether a parent or the child is a human trafficking victim. A judge would also have to determine whether a parent was convicted or caused a child or other parent to be trafficked.

Someone convicted or who caused human trafficking would face a higher legal burden to receive any form of child custody.

Several Republican Assembly members and law enforcement officials gathered Thursday morning at the state Capitol, highlighting public safety-related bills like Hoover’s. They also urged Governor Gavin Newsom to provide funding for Proposition 36 in his budget.

“He’s podcasting a lot, but his priorities are completely out of whack,” said Assemblymember and Minority Leader James Gallagher, a Yuba City Republican.

Public safety and the proposition are linked. Proposition 36, passed overwhelmingly by voters in November, increased penalties for certain theft and drug crimes.

“Prop 36 passed by a supermajority,” said Jeff Reisig, Yolo County district attorney. “It was an absolute mandate for a different approach.”

Contrary to that approach, Republicans argued, is Assembly Bill 1333, written by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, a West Hollywood Democrat. It would have removed certain situations under which justifiable homicide could occur — specifically, in the defense of home or property.

Zbur in a Wednesday statement said he’d withdraw the bill from consideration. He said he never intended to affect someone’s ability to protect themselves or their home but instead wanted to stop armed aggressors from starting public confrontations. He said misinformation and confusion about the bill led him to withdraw it.

“I remain committed to keeping our communities safe and will continue working with law enforcement, legal experts, and public and gun safety advocates to advance smart policies that protect victims and safeguard the right to self-defense,” Zbur said in a statement.

Republicans on Thursday also pushed back against Senate Bill 672, written by state Senator Susan Rubio, a Baldwin Park Democrat. It would make someone eligible for parole if serving a sentence of life without parole, provided the offense occurred when they were younger than 25 and had served at least 25 years.

Assembly members also highlighted public safety bills they’re hoping become law.

Assemblymember Tom Lackey, a Palmdale Republican, wrote Assembly Bill 38. It would close a legal loophole and classify the rape of a developmentally disabled minor as a violent felony.

“Our system now has displaced sympathy toward the offender,” Lackey said.

A bill by Assemblymember Laurie Davies, a Laguna Niguel Republican, would authorize testing for any sexually transmitted disease on a person facing certain sex crimes. Current law allows for HIV tests only.

Assembly Bill 634, by Indio Republican Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, would make tianeptine a Schedule I drug. Intended to treat depression, tianeptine can lead to opioid-like highs.

“It’s sold in convenience stores and gas stations,” Gonzalez said, calling it “gas station heroin.”

Assembly Bill 983 — written by Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, a Tulare Republican — would enable law enforcement to impound a vehicle that exceeded 100 mph.