Assembly Public Safety Committee advances package of public-safety bills to Appropriations; several measures draw sharp debate

The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety on Wednesday advanced a slate of bills to the Assembly Appropriations Committee after hearing hours of testimony from law enforcement, survivor advocates, researchers and community groups.

The committee, chaired by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, moved forward measures addressing: enhanced penalties for ketamine transport (AB 837); an aggravating sentencing factor for threats against judges and court commissioners (AB 352); expanded vacatur and affirmative‑defense paths for survivors of trafficking and intimate partner or sexual violence (AB 938); a ban on involuntary work assignments in state prisons and a constitutional amendment to remove slavery language (AB 475 / ACA 6); a pathway to seal and destroy certain youth convictions (AB 704); resentencing consideration for incarcerated firefighters (AB 812); a one‑time study on segregated confinement (AB 701); limits on prices charged in prison visiting rooms (AB 800, placed on call); requirements for police to inform family members after officer‑involved injury or death (AB 572); and a proposal to direct savings from prison closures into community violence prevention programs (AB 785).

Why it matters: Committee members and witnesses framed the bills as addressing competing priorities of public safety, accountability and rehabilitation. Supporters argued the measures invest in prevention, protect survivors and restore opportunities to people returning from custody. Opponents — including prosecutors, police unions, and some victim‑advocacy organizations — warned some proposals risked unintended consequences for investigations, victim safety or the operational viability of existing programs.

Most measures were advanced as amended to the Appropriations Committee; two measures were held “on call” for final votes pending members’ return. Committee votes were taken by roll call; detailed vote records are entered in committee minutes and were recorded on the floor for each bill as called.

Key actions and highlights

- AB 837 (Davies) — Ketamine transport: Author Assemblymember Rebecca Davies said the bill narrows a 1991 loophole so that people who transport ketamine illegally into California can face sentencing changes under Penal Code section 1170. Supporters included the California District Attorneys Association and several law‑enforcement groups. Opponents including drug policy and public‑health groups argued increased penalties worsen public health outcomes and deter people from calling 911. The committee adopted author‑agreed amendments and advanced the measure to Appropriations.

- AB 352 (Pacheco) — Threats against judges: Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco said the bill adds an aggravating factor to Penal Code section 422 when the target is a judge or court commissioner, allowing courts discretion to impose an enhanced felony term when appropriate. The California Judges Association and prosecutors supported the bill. The ACLU and criminal legal reform advocates opposed, saying existing aggravating‑factor law and prosecutorial discretion already cover such cases; they argued the statutory change was unnecessary and risked codifying unequal carve‑outs. The committee advanced the bill to Appropriations as amended.

- AB 938 (Bonta) — Vacatur and affirmative defense for trafficking and other survivors: Assemblymember Mia Bonta described the bill as expanding vacatur and an affirmative defense to apply to all offenses (except murder) committed while the defendant was coerced as a result of being a victim of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, or sexual violence. Survivors and legal advocates testified about cases where trafficking or ongoing abuse resulted in criminal convictions; prosecutors raised concerns about extending vacatur to violent offenses without clear public‑safety guardrails. The committee passed the measure as amended to Appropriations.

- AB 475 / ACA 6 (Wilson) — Prison work assignments and constitutional slavery language: Assemblymember Mia Bonta (presenting for Assemblymember Wilson) introduced AB 475 to make work assignments for incarcerated people voluntary and ACA 6 to remove slavery language from the state constitution. Witnesses with lived experience and civil‑rights groups supported the change; no formal opposition was on the record, though one member voiced concerns about ballot confusion during prior public votes. The measure was advanced to Appropriations and left on call pending a small number of members’ votes.

- AB 704 (Lowenthal) — Record sealing and destruction for convictions when the person was 18–25: Assemblymember Alby Lowenthal said the bill creates a petition pathway for people convicted of eligible low‑level offenses while ages 18–25 to seek sealing and destruction of records after a waiting period, with courts retaining discretion to grant relief in the interest of justice. Supporters said youth brain science and modern digital record‑keeping justify the relief; prosecutors expressed concerns about disclosure obligations and discovery practice (Brady and related duties). The committee advanced the bill to Appropriations.

- AB 812 (Lowenthal) — Resentencing recommendations for incarcerated firefighters: The bill would allow rules and a recommendation mechanism for resentencing consideration for incarcerated people who have served on conservation fire crews. Formerly incarcerated firefighters and supporters from the Vera Institute and public‑defense groups testified in favor; some district‑attorney offices and victim groups expressed concern about public‑safety impacts and the possibility of subsequent firefighter misconduct. The committee passed the measure to Appropriations.

- AB 701 (Ortega) — Study of segregated confinement: Assemblymember Lisa Ortega said the bill directs a one‑time, comprehensive study of segregated confinement (often referred to as restrictive housing or solitary) across state, private, and local facilities; the California Research Bureau has previously estimated restricted housing costs roughly $410 million per year. Disability‑rights and civil‑rights witnesses emphasized disproportionate impacts on people with mental‑health disabilities and people of color. No formal opposition was recorded; the committee advanced the bill to Appropriations.

- AB 800 (Ortega) — Prison visiting‑room food prices: Assemblymember Ortega said families pay sharply higher prices for vending and visiting‑room food and that the bill would require visiting‑room prices to track average retail prices in the local community, with carve‑outs to preserve Business Enterprise Program (BEP) opportunities for blind vendors. BEP vendors testified that their businesses require specific margins because of procurement, logistics and statutory obligations; they asked for further negotiation so reforms do not shutter long‑standing blind‑vendor businesses. The measure was put on call for further votes after discussion and is expected to be amended and reconsidered.

- AB 572 (Kalra) — Police interviews of family members after officer‑involved serious injury or death: Assemblymember Ash Kalra introduced a measure to require peace officers, when contacting next‑of‑kin after an officer‑involved serious injury or death, to state whether the family member is being interviewed as a witness and to provide certain disclosures so families are not misled while vulnerable. Family members who lost loved ones to police shootings testified about being told misleading information and then rigorously questioned while distraught; police and prosecutors expressed concern the bill could chill witness cooperation or create confusion with Miranda‑type advisements. Committee members signaled willingness to refine language to avoid interfering with criminal investigations. The committee voted to pass the bill as amended to Appropriations.

- AB 785 (Sharp Collins) — Community Violence Interdiction Grant Program: Assemblymember Mia Sharp Collins presented the bill to create a grant program administered by the California Health & Human Services Agency to direct savings from future prison closures into community‑driven violence‑interruption, school‑based services and youth programs. Supporters argued reinvesting demonstrated savings in prevention reduces future costs to the state and improves community safety. The bill received broad support from survivor and anti‑violence groups and will be further considered by Appropriations.

What changes next: Most measures were advanced to the Appropriations Committee, where fiscal analyses and budget tradeoffs will be considered. Several authors accepted committee amendments during the hearing and were asked to continue working with opposing stakeholders on clarifying language. Committee members repeatedly urged authors to address implementation details — for example, how vacatur would interact with public‑safety assessments, how prison vending reforms would preserve BEP jobs, and how victim interests would be protected in resentencing or vacatur proceedings.

Quotes

"We are losing way too many — this bill only touches the persons illegally transporting ketamine in our state," Assemblymember Rebecca Davies said in presenting AB 837.

"Increased penalties do more harm than good and in fact there's little evidence of positive outcomes but well documented evidence of bad outcomes," Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal, an NIH‑funded researcher at USC, said in opposition to the ketamine penalty bill.

"Survivors deserve our compassion, not further incarceration," Assemblymember Mia Bonta said in support of AB 938 expanding vacatur and an affirmative defense for trafficking and abuse survivors.

"No one should be forced to have to choose between their humanity and a prison work assignment," Esteban Núñez, a formerly incarcerated advocate, said in support of AB 475.

What's next: The bills now go to Appropriations for fiscal hearings and potential floor consideration. Authors and stakeholders were directed to continue negotiating technical clarifications; committee staff asked authors to return with language that addresses investigative and victim‑safety concerns where opponents raised them.

Ending note: Committee members on both sides repeatedly framed the hearing as balancing two aims — public safety and transparency/accountability — and asked authors to preserve that balance as the measures move toward budget and floor deadlines.