Bills to Watch

CA AB 102: Marriage: Domestic Partnerships: Name Equality Act Oct 16, 2007
What’s in a name change? As the law stands, it requires going to court if you’re a male spouse who wishes to adopt your wife’s last name. AB 102 guarantees that men and women are treated equally when they choose to adopt or not adopt a new name upon marriage or registration as domestic partners. Codifies equal name change options available to everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, who gets married or registers as a domestic partner in California.
ACLU-NC Position: Support/Sponsor
Status: Signed by Governor (10/12/07)


CA AB 629: Sexual Health Education Accountability Act Oct 16, 2007
This bill enacts the Sexual Health Education Accountability Act, which requires any state-funded, community-based program that provides education to prevent adolescent or unintended pregnancy or to prevent sexually transmitted infections, to meet specified requirements, including that the information is medically accurate and age-appropriate.
ACLU-NC Position: Support/Sponsor
Status: Signed by Governor (10/13/07)


CA AB 976: Tenancy: Tenant's Characteristics Oct 16, 2007
Prohibit local governments from compelling landlords to inquire and/or report information about the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant. Likewise prohibits landlords from voluntarily conducting such an inquiry or from requiring that tenants or occupants make any statements about immigration or citizenship status.
ACLU-NC Position: Sponsor/Support
Status: Signed by Governor (10/10/07)


CA SB 1019: Peace Officer Records: Confidentiality Oct 16, 2007
This bill overturns the California Supreme Court in Copley Press v. Superior Court, that has blocked the public from access to police misconduct records. As a result of the ruling, civilian oversight agencies have been forced to stop holding public hearings on complaints about police misconduct. The bill would allow police oversight agencies throughout the state to function as they did prior to the decision, and with regard to internal affairs cases, would provide discretion to the employing agency to release limited summary information in sustained cases of serious misconduct.
ACLU-NC Position: Support
Status: Passed Senate; Held in Assembly Committee on Public Safety; Will be re-introduced next year


CA SB 28, 29, 30, & 31: Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) Reform Bills Oct 16, 2007
This is the package of Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) reform bills we are co-sponsoring. -SB 28 and 29 place a 3-year moratorium on the use of RFID devices in California driver licenses and in the school identification cards of students respectively. -SB 30 places restrictions and protection measures on using RFID tags in government identity documents. -SB 31 makes "skimming" or accessing the information on RFID tags without authorization a crime.
ACLU-NC Position: Support/Sponsor
Status: SB 28, 29 & 30 passed Senate, pending on Assembly floor. SB 31 held in Senate Public Safety. All have become two-year bills.


CA SB 405: Schools: Curriculum: Opportunities for Pupils Oct 16, 2007
The bill reforms middle and high school counseling programs to ensure that students receive individualized review of their career goals, and are informed not only about high school graduation requirements, but also of college eligibility requirements and career technical opportunities in their schools.
ACLU-NC Position: Support/Sponsor
Status: Signed by Governor (10/14/07)


CA SB 511: Interrogation: Recording Oct 16, 2007
This bill requires the electronic recording of custodial interrogations for violent felony suspects. Electronic recording will help reduce number of wrongful convictions resulting from false confessions.
ACLU-NC Position: Support
Status: Vetoed by Governor (10/13/07)


CA SB 609: Criminal Procedure: Informants Oct 16, 2007
This bill requires that a defendant cannot be convicted based upon the uncorroborated testimony of an in-custody informant. The bill will reduce the likelihood of wrongful conviction as a result of false informant testimony.
ACLU-NC Position: Support
Status: Vetoed by Governor (10/13/07)


CA SB 756: Criminal Investigations: Eyewitness Identification Oct 16, 2007
This bill requires the Attorney General to develop “best practices” guidelines regarding eyewitness identifications in order to decrease the number of misidentifications. The guidelines will be transmitted to the Legislature with recommendations for any legislation needed to enforce the guidelines.
ACLU-NC Position: Support
Status: Vetoed by Governor (10/13/07)