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Alanis announces public safety legislative priorities
Juan Alanis
Assemblymember Juan Alanis, who represents Turlock, speaks at the Assembly Republicans Public Safety press conference (Photo contributed).

Assemblymember Juan Alanis, the Vice Chairman of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, introduced on Monday a legislative proposal (AB 335) to repeal Proposition 47. He also announced his work on 11 other public safety proposals.

“Public Safety is clearly broken in California,” said Assemblymember Juan Alanis. “Prop 47 is a failed experiment which has only catered to criminals in our state. Fentanyl plagues our communities, schools and society. We must attack our state’s crime problem at its source.”

AB 335 would repeal Proposition 47 in its entirety, with the exception of some cannabis-related language.

Proposition 47, a voter-approved initiative on the November 2014 ballot, implemented three broad changes to felony sentencing laws. First, it reclassified certain theft and drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Second, it authorizes defendants currently serving sentences for felony offenses that would have qualified as misdemeanors under the proposition to petition courts for resentencing under the new misdemeanor provisions. Third, it authorizes defendants who have completed their sentences for felony convictions that would have qualified as misdemeanors under the proposition to apply to reclassify those convictions to misdemeanors.

“Even if the Majority decides to block this legislation, we must have an honest conversation about providing real public safety solutions for California,” added Alanis. “I stand ready to work with my colleagues in both houses and across the aisle to make our justice system more fair, our state more safe and our communities better protected against the scourge of fentanyl.”

In addition to AB 335, Assemblymember Alanis introduced AB 243 - Address Confidentiality for Child Abduction Victims; and AB 255 - Priority Registration for Peace Officers. He will also introduce legislation to help law enforcement better police street racing, and streamline POST training standards for law enforcement recruits in California.

Alanis is also co-authoring the following Public Safety legislation: AB 18 - Fentanyl Voluntary Manslaughter Advisory, AB 19 - Naloxone Hydrochloride for Opioids in schools. He is also working to co-author at least seven more legislative proposals on public safety yet to be introduced.