Former Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares joined KHTS to discuss recent bills in the state legislature Thursday.
On Thursday, Valladares joined KHTS live on air to discuss three bills making their way through California’s state legislature.
Assembly Bill 328: Firearm Sentencing Enhancements
Currently, anyone who uses a firearm to commit certain specified felonies can be punished with an enhancement of an additional 10 years in state prison, or 20 years if the person fired the gun, or 25 years to life if the person caused great bodily injury or death with the gun.
However, currently, a court can dismiss those enhancements in certain circumstances.
Assembly Bill 328 would ban courts from dismissing sentencing enhancements that require a person who uses a gun to commit a felony to be punished by a specific minimum number of years in jail.
“Pretty much the objective was to restore mandatory 20 year to life prison sentences for those who use a gun in the process of a violent crime,” Valladares said. “A violent crime would include murder, kidnapping, rape, assault with a firearm, assault against a law enforcement officer and lewd acts with a child.”
Assembly Bill 257: Homeless Encampment Ban Near Schools
Assembly Bill 257 would ban homeless encampments from being within 500 feet from schools, daycare centers and libraries.
“It’s actually born out of the Los Angeles city ordinance,” Valladares said. “The city council voted in favor of banning encampments 500 feet from schools, from parks, from childcare centers.”
AB 257 would make that a statewide rule.
Senate Bill 843: Taxation and Renters’ Credit
Senate Bill 843 would increase tax credits for renters.
With inflation and increased cost of living, the bill would increase renter tax credit for the first time in four decades, according to Valladares.
“The bill would increase it from $60 to $500 dollars an individual, up to $1000 for a couple,” Valladares said.
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