Civic engagement has been a point of focus for us at CAIR this election year. We hope to continue the momentum of Muslim Day at the Capitol over the course of the year, where we will be monitoring legislation impacting the civil and human rights of American Muslims and others.
Our complete list of legislative priorities for 2016 is included below.
Please note: CAIR will be opposing bills AB 1551, AB 1552, AB 2844 and SJR 21.
1. Safe Place to Learn Act *CAIR sponsored – Support
AB 2845 (Asm. Williams)
Will require the California Department of Education (CDE), as part of its compliance monitoring, to assess whether local educational agencies (LEAs) have provided information to certificated staff serving grades 7-12 on school site and community resources for pupils who face bias or bullying on the basis of religious affiliation, or perceived religious affiliation. The Legislature encourages school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide information on existing schoolsite and community resources to educate teachers, administrators, and other school staff on the support of Muslim, Sikh, and other pupils who may face anti-Muslim bias and bullying.
2. Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions – Oppose
AB 2844 (Asm. Bloom), AB 1551, AB 1552 (Asm. Allen)- Anti-BDS Bill Package
These bills would prohibit the state of California from investing in business firms or financial institutions that participate in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting Israel. One bill, AB 2844, would also create state mandated programs that would offer incentives to companies strengthening their relationship with Israel. It tasks the Attorney General with maintaining a list of companies engaged in BDS efforts.
3. Strengthening Family Connections Act – Support
SB 1242 (Sen. Lara)
Due to a one-day glitch between federal and state statutes, federal immigration law treats a California misdemeanor as if it were a felony – because a California misdemeanor has a possible maximum sentence of 365 days. For this reason, just one misdemeanor conviction, even one where no jail time at all was imposed, can cause an immigrant to lose lawful status and be deported.
4. Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights – Support
SB 1015 (Sen. Leyva)
Existing law, the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, regulates the hours of work of domestic work employees who are personal attendants and provides an overtime compensation rate for those employees. The Domestic Worker Bill of Rights defines terms for its purposes and requires the Governor to convene a committee to study and report to the Governor on the effects of its provisions on personal attendants and their employers. Existing law repeals The Domestic Worker Bill of Rights as of January 1, 2017.
This bill would delete the repeal date. By extending the effect of the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, the violation of which is a misdemeanor, this bill would expand the definition of a crime, which would impose a state-mandated local program.
5. Anti-Refugee Bill – Oppose
SJR 21 (Sen. Huff)
This measure would urge Congress and the President of the United States to support the principles within the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, effectively strengthening the screening process for Syrian and Iraqi refugees.
6. Police Investigation Transparency and Accountability – Support
SB 1286 (Sen. Leno)
SB 1286 will (1) Allow public access to investigations, findings and discipline information on serious uses of force by police (2) Allow public access to information on police misconduct. (3) Affirm that you have a right to be able to track your misconduct complaints and see what the police department is doing about it. (4) Allow local governments that choose to establish civilian review boards or appeal boards for officer discipline to have those boards hold open public hearings. (5) Give power back to civilian oversight bodies to effectively monitor police.
7. TRUTH Act – Support
AB 2792 (Asm. Bonta)
TRUST Act was passed to limit effects of S-Comm, which required local law enforcement to “hold” undocumented detainees for ICE. A federal court found the “hold” requests to be unconstitutional. In response, Obama administration has created “PEP” which requires local law enforcement to “notify” ICE. AB 2792 establishes a transparent process, including community engagement, prior to local law enforcement participation in ICE deportation programs. Local law enforcement must then reach an agreement with their city council or county supervisors, dictating the terms and conditions of any participation in such programs, and ensure compliance with the state’s TRUST Act.
8. Restorative Justice Act – Support
AB 2590 (Asm. Weber)
This bill would provide legislative findings and declarations that the purpose of sentencing is public safety achieved through accountability, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. The bill would amend the above legislative findings to state that programs should be available to all inmates and would encourage the department to allow all inmates the opportunity to enroll in programs that promote successful return to the community.
9. Unmanned Aircraft Systems – Support
AB 1820 (Asm. Quirk)
Before the use of an unmanned aircraft system, the law enforcement agency develops and makes available to the public a policy on the use of an unmanned aircraft system, as provided, and that the law enforcement agency complies with all applicable federal, state, and local law and the unmanned aircraft system policy developed by the law enforcement agency pursuant to the bill’s provisions. The bill would prohibit a law enforcement agency from using an unmanned aircraft system to surveil private property unless, among other justifications, the law enforcement agency obtains a search warrant.
The bill would require images, footage, or data obtained through the use of an unmanned aircraft system under these provisions to be permanently destroyed within one year, except as specified. Unless authorized by federal law, the bill would prohibit a person or entity, including a public agency subject to these provisions, or a person or entity under contract to a public agency, for the purpose of that contract, from equipping or arming an unmanned aircraft system with a weapon or other device that may be carried by, or launched or directed from, an unmanned aircraft system and that is intended to cause incapacitation, bodily injury or death, or damage to, or the destruction of, real or personal property.
10. Voting Rights Clarification – Support
AB 2466 (Sen. Weber)
AB 2466 would amend the Elections Code to codify the recent decision ensuring that more than 50,000 people under mandatory and post-release community supervision can vote. AB 2466 also clarifies that the third category of CJRA sentencing – a term in county jail – likewise does not strip people of their right to vote. Creates consistent language in our Elections Code on who can and cannot vote with a criminal conviction. It ensures that individuals sentenced under the Criminal Justice Realignment Act keep their right to vote, clarifies a juvenile adjudication does not affect the right to voting, and clarifies the information courts send to election officials so that no eligible voter is mistakenly denied their right to vote.
