Criminal Justice & Penalty Enhancement

Criminalizes the manufacture, sale, and use of signal jammers without federal authorization in California. Imposes fines up to $1,000 and jail time for using signal jammers during criminal activities. Makes blocking public safety communications with signal jammers a felony offense. Exempts state and local law enforcement agencies from signal jammer restrictions.

Expands self-defense rights by allowing preemptive action against reasonably perceived threats of bodily harm. Protects individuals from civil lawsuits when using proportional force in self-defense situations. Prohibits courts from considering a person's fighting skills or training when evaluating self-defense actions. Requires defensive actions to stop immediately when the threat is no longer present.

Establishes a new electronic database for the public to report and search for missing children, including immigrants. Provides anonymous reporting features to protect individuals from immigration enforcement concerns. Requires free DNA testing for parents when reuniting with found children to confirm parentage. Mandates firewall protections to prevent unauthorized sharing of sensitive database information.

Makes technical changes to allow property records of stolen items to be stored in computer databases.

Makes technical changes to provisions classifying parties involved in criminal offenses.

Establishes new penalties for unlawful possession of copper materials valued over $950. Requires metal dealers to document seller information and material source location for all copper purchases. Imposes fines up to $10,000 for falsifying copper possession records. Creates stricter regulations for salvage dealers handling public utility equipment and materials.

Eliminates the statute of limitations for hit-and-run accidents causing death or serious injury after January 2026. Allows prosecutors to file charges at any time after a suspect is identified in fatal hit-and-run cases. Replaces the current 6-year limit for prosecuting hit-and-run cases with permanent prosecution authority.

Establishes stricter penalties for looting by making it a felony offense during emergencies and 180 days after. Creates new felony charges for impersonating first responders during evacuations or online. Removes judicial discretion to reduce mandatory 180-day jail sentences for looting convictions. Clarifies that disaster damage to buildings does not prevent burglary or looting convictions.

Restricts courts from automatically dismissing firearm-related sentencing enhancements in criminal cases. Allows judges to dismiss firearm enhancements only through their general dismissal authority after careful review. Requires courts to consider specific factors like mental illness and childhood trauma when evaluating dismissals. Maintains additional prison terms of 10-25 years for using firearms in serious felonies.

Establishes new procedures for returning seized currency to lawful owners through court-supervised hearings. Requires law enforcement to prove stolen or embezzled status of seized currency before returning it to owners. Mandates a 30-day window for individuals to contest currency seizures through court hearings. Requires agencies to notify prosecutors 10 days before returning seized currency to owners.

Expands victim compensation eligibility by removing requirements for police reports and law enforcement cooperation. Authorizes the Victim Compensation Board to accept medical records and advocate statements as evidence of crimes. Reduces the maximum compensation for derivative victims from $100,000 to $70,000. Streamlines income loss verification by accepting alternative evidence beyond official employment documents.

Authorizes civilian oversight boards and inspectors general to access confidential peace officer personnel records. Grants oversight boards and inspectors general the power to issue subpoenas during investigations. Requires law enforcement agencies to disclose officer misconduct records within 45 days of request. Mandates oversight boards maintain confidentiality of personnel records while conducting investigations.

Establishes new criminal penalties for gift card theft, fraud, and forgery in California. Classifies theft of gift cards valued over $950 as grand theft, punishable as a felony. Criminalizes fraudulent schemes to obtain gift cards through false pretenses or misrepresentation. Applies to both physical and digital gift cards, including single-store and multi-merchant cards.

Reforms indigent defense contracts to ensure quality legal representation for low-income defendants by 2027. Prohibits flat-fee payment structures for public defense attorneys to prevent financial conflicts of interest. Requires counties to provide separate funding for defense services like investigators and social workers. Mandates contracts align attorney caseloads with national workload standards to ensure adequate time per case.

Requires talent agents, managers, and coaches working with minors to report suspected child abuse. Mandates penalties of up to 6 months in jail and $1,000 fines for failing to report abuse. Encourages employers to provide child abuse identification and reporting training to mandated reporters. Expands child protection in the entertainment industry by adding new categories of mandated reporters.

Prohibits manufacturing or selling devices designed to intercept cellular and cordless phone communications. Imposes fines up to $2,500 and jail time for first offenses, with increased penalties for repeat violations. Exempts law enforcement agencies and utility companies from these restrictions.

Requires the Department of Justice to publish detailed criminal justice statistics on drug and theft convictions by 2026. Mandates counties to report annual spending on sheriff, probation, and court activities starting January 2026. Requires courts to track and report demographic data on drug-related diversion programs and outcomes. Creates a public database of criminal justice statistics and county expenditures by January 2027.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to strengthen penalties for impersonating first responders during emergencies. Targets enhanced punishment for those who pose as emergency personnel during disaster situations.

Expands the definition of looting to include more crimes committed in evacuation zones during emergencies. Increases criminal penalties for theft and burglary committed in areas under evacuation orders. Creates new felony charges for impersonating emergency personnel during disasters or evacuations. Requires minimum 180-day jail sentences for looting convictions unless judges find special circumstances.

Prohibits drone operation at emergency scenes that impedes first responders and emergency personnel. Authorizes civil penalties up to $75,000 per violation for interfering with emergency response. Allows the Attorney General and local attorneys to pursue civil enforcement actions. Exempts drone operators who hold federal operational waivers from these restrictions.

Increases penalties for looting during emergencies and natural disasters from a misdemeanor to a felony. Requires minimum 180-day jail sentence for grand theft looting cases when probation is granted. Mandates up to 240 hours of community service for those convicted of looting during emergencies.

Establishes felony penalties for impersonating peace officers or firefighters during emergencies. Requires uniform vendors to verify buyer authorization before selling law enforcement or firefighter uniforms. Mandates clear identification markings on badges issued to honorably retired peace officers.

Prohibits insurance companies from using drones to inspect residential properties and requires 120 days notice before cancellation. Establishes $1,000 fines for operating drones near critical infrastructure facilities or the State Capitol. Creates criminal penalties for using drones to surveil or threaten safety at schools. Increases fines to $1,000 for operating drones over prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities.

Expands penalties for soliciting minors for prostitution and creates new fines for purchasing commercial sex. Establishes a Survivor Support Fund to provide grants to organizations helping sex trafficking victims. Requires first-time offenders engaged in prostitution to be offered diversion programs instead of jail. Makes loitering with intent to purchase commercial sex a new misdemeanor offense.

Requires background checks for POST employees who access criminal records and law enforcement data. Expands POST's authority to access and review sensitive law enforcement records for officer investigations. Mandates law enforcement agencies to report officer misconduct and employment changes within 10 days. Establishes clear criteria for revoking peace officer certifications due to serious misconduct.