TAKE ACTION AGAINST AB 109
As we have reported to you AB 109, the Governor's Public Safety Realignment Plan, was signed into law on April 4, 2011. AB 109 was approved by the Legislature on a partisan vote with Democrats voting for the bill and Republicans voting against the bill.
As we mentioned in previous emails, the legislature did not allow for public comment on AB 109, introducing it and passing it in a matter of hours. So far a couple other bills have been introduced and passed associated with AB 109, considered clean up bills, and these have gone through the same process.
In his signing message, the Governor vowed not to implement AB 109 without adequate funding to support already overburdened local public safety agencies as they attempt to carry the burden of more responsibility for incarcerating and monitoring convicted felons who previously would have been incarcerated and monitored by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). However AB 109 contained no direct funding or a funding mechanism, and it is unclear how much funding the legislature will approve to move this dangerously flawed law forward.
CDCR has started the implementation process by convening meetings of stakeholders to discuss plans for the shift in responsibilities. CDCR is planning for a July 1, 2011 implementation date. CVAA was one of two crime victim organizations invited to attend an implementation meeting - as we have mentioned before, we asked to be included when realignment was first being discussed, but were refused. We were granted one meeting with the Secretary of Corrections to voice our concerns and were asked to submit a one-page list of our concerns that could be addressed at future meetings. It was somewhat difficult to include much on that list when we were not sure what the exact provisions of the proposed realignment plan were, due to the highly fluid negotiating process.
CVAA has taken the time to carefully analyze AB 109 and has put together a fact sheet listing the devastating effects this law will have on public safety. Click HERE to view the FACT SHEET.
In addition, we have drafted a letter that you may use in its entirety or as a template to create your own, either thanking your representative for opposing AB 109 or voicing your disappointment in their support of AB 109 and asking that they work to repeal this dangerous law.
Click HERE to view the Thank You Letter for those that opposed AB 109.
Click HERE to view the Disappointed Letter for those that supported AB 109.
We have also set up an auto letter that you can click and send, and add your own message to, that will be sent to the Senate and Assembly Leaders who supported AB 109 - with a copy to the Senate and Assembly Leaders who opposed it. Click HERE to access the auto letter - and send one today!
It is important to note that the realignment of pubic safety services called for in AB 109 are permanent, however the budget “crisis” California currently faces is temporary.
Who Voted for AB 109?
Assemblymembers
Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro Davis, Dickinson, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Galgiani, Gatto, Gordon, Hall, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Lara, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Skinner, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez
Senators
Alquist, Calderon, Corbett, De León, DeSaulnier, Evans, Hancock, Hernandez,
Kehoe, Leno, Lieu, Liu, Lowenthal, Negrete, McLeod, Padilla, Pavley, Price, Rubio Simitian, Steinberg, Vargas, Wolk, Wright, Yee