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Assembly GOP Caucus: Democrat Sentencing Commission Bill Defeated

 Democrat Sentencing Commission Bill Defeated

SACRAMENTO - Assembly Republicans helped defeat legislation during today's session that would have created a new California Sentencing Commission with broad powers to change mandatory sentencing laws, without a vote of the Legislature. Republicans said it would have been a serious threat to the public safety of all Californians. 

"As state lawmakers, it is our responsibility to maintain a commitment to public safety, to protect California's hard-working families from dangerous criminals," said Assembly Public Safety Committee Vice Chair Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton. "By defeating this measure, we are ensuring justice is served for crime victims and their families, and that criminals will receive appropriate punishment for their crimes."

Senate Bill 110 by Senator Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, would have established a new California Sentencing Commission, which would have been given early-unchecked powers to alter the state's mandatory sentencing laws, without little input from the Legislature.

Republicans argued that SB 110 was an unconstitutional threat to public safety that could lead to the weakening of tough-on-crime public safety laws like "One Strike" and 10-20-Life, which have made a difference in lowering the violent crime rate by more than 50 percent over the past decade.  

GOP lawmakers successfully argued that the commission would have potentially eliminated consideration of a criminal's prior record at sentencing altogether, and said that SB 110 would have imposed limitations on a judge's ability to look at a defendant's criminal history, requiring first-time offenders to be treated similarly to those who have lengthy records.

"This bill was not about comprehensive reform, but rather selective prosecution," said Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, Chair of the Select Committee on Prison Construction and Operations.  "The Legislature must never abdicate it's authority to determine our state's sentencing laws.  It's not only irresponsible, it's dangerous."

SB 110 was defeated today with Republicans united in opposition to the measure.

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