Chelsea’s Law, Assembly Bill 1844, passed through the California State Senate today by a unanimous vote. The measure, authored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, (R-San Diego), in partnership with the family of Chelsea King, will better protect California children from violent sexual predators. Specifically, Chelsea’s Law includes:

• A true life penalty without the possibility of parole for the most dangerous sexual offenders
• Increased sentences for forcible sex crimes
• Increased parole terms for those who target children under the age of 14
• Restrictions on sex offenders’ ability to enter parks
• A first-in-the-nation containment model and dynamic risk assessment structure
• A requirement that Megan’s Law publicly list sex offenders’ risk assessment scores
• A revision of the California mentally disordered offender laws to provide for continued detention of offenders where evaluation and assessment deem such to be necessary

“Going through the Senate we’ve made Chelsea’s Law better—stronger and more comprehensive,” Fletcher said. “The heartbreaking loss of Chelsea earlier this year revealed a broken public safety system, and it called our entire community and our entire state to action. With the King family’s unwavering dedication and with the good-faith of many who contributed to shaping this measure, we’ve built a solution that will protect children and spare other families from tragedy,” Fletcher added.

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“The collective hard work by Assemblyman Fletcher, his bi-partisan legislative partners and impassioned Californians is culminating in a historical outcome with tangible benefit to our state’s children, said Chelsea’s parents, Kelly and Brent King. “Chelsea’s larger-than-life legacy is helping to fulfill her and our dreams for positive change.”

From the Senate, Chelsea’s Law will proceed to the California State Assembly for a final concurrence vote which will be conducted in the next week. If it passes the Assembly Floor, it will proceed to Governor Schwarzenegger for final approval. The Governor will have thirty days to sign Chelsea’s Law.