State Assemblyman Dante Acosta, R-Santa Clarita, spoke with KHTS on Thursday to discuss his office’s accomplishments in 2017, as well as his goals for 2018.

In 2017, Acosta took a particular interest in improving and enhancing certain aspects of law enforcement, and how the justice system can address what he sees as a “growing rate of crime.”

“Brought to our attention by the DA’s office, we passed AB 539, which helps streamline the process for law enforcement to obtain search warrants,” said Acosta. “Areas this new framework might be applied in are in instances such as when, after ending a consensual relationship, an ex posts compromising information or photos on the internet. The DA can more actively pursue prosecuting this person.”

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Additionally, Dante Acosta helped sponsor AB 1027, which eases and incentivizes the licensing process for motorcycle riders, as well as AB 1172, which began the negotiating process for the Department of Transportation to relinquish a four-mile stretch of Sierra Highway into the City of Santa Clarita’s control.

However, while AB 539 was successfully passed, Acosta’s work on AB 537, a bill that examined and redefined several serious felonies, was not passed.

“There are several serious felonies that do not result in the convicted person going to state prison,” said Acosta. “Instead they are placed in county jails, where overcrowding and early release put these felons back on the community’s streets quickly.”

Acosta stated that his focus on generating legislation that further empowers the justice system stems from what he believes to be an increase in crime in his district, despite LASD officials stating last week that crime was on a decline countywide.

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“I’m on the ground speaking with folks from the community, and I can tell you people are saying that crime is on the rise,” said Acosta. “Sheriff’s may look at the macro-statistics, but I have to look at what people in my district are saying.”

Gov. Jerry Brown’s Proposition 57, which voters overwhelmingly approved in Nov. 2016, continued a statewide effort to increase rehabilitation services and decrease the prison population.

Among its provisions, the initiative will give new power to the state parole board to consider the early release of prisoners who have served the full term of their primary sentences, and whose crimes are not designated as “violent” under the California penal code.

Acosta said that he would be revisiting AB 537 and implementing a couple “tweaks” in order to once again present the legislation on the floor.

Similarly, Acosta’s AB 754, a bill that would have provided a $500 grant to foster kids that wish to participate in extracurricular activities, was not signed into law.

Related: Acosta Authors Motorcycle License Law; Several Bills Await Brown’s Signature

“This bill unfortunately did not pass the Appropriations Committee because this type of program has a price tag to it, and it didn’t align with the Assembly’s legislative priorities,” said Acosta. “We’ll also be revisiting this in 2018.”

Regardless of what specific legislation Acosta plans to introduce this year, he says that he will continue to author and sponsor legislation that upholds the commitments he’s made to his constituents.

“My office and I are going to continue to improve public health and safety, ensure the proper care of the elderly and youth and serve as a watchdog over those agencies that spend taxpayer money,” he said.

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