Local Assemblymember Points to Expanded California Legislative Black Caucus Package In Wake of George Floyd Killing

Pasadena Assemblymember Chris Holden, former Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), said Friday the Caucus had announced an expansion to their 2020 legislative package in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the worldwide outcry for police reform.

The legislation aims to invoke structural change and includes increased oversight, a ban on carotid sleeper holds, independent investigations when deadly force is used.

“We are calling for safety, accountability, transparency, and justice. These are American values, and when they no longer apply to all Americans, then we have lost our way,” Holden said. “The new measures we introduced can help put us back on the right path.”

Floyd was killed by police on Memorial Day in Minnesota. His death has renewed calls for police reform and led to protests in all 50 states, forcing the nation to address racism against Black people at the hands of police.

“The events in recent weeks have highlighted the ongoing problems of excessive policing in communities of color, overreaction to peaceful protests, unwarranted use of deadly force and lack of accountability for officer misconduct. These cyclical patterns undermine the public’s confidence in law enforcement’s ability to keep us safe. In some cases, we are convinced that they have abandoned the essential public trust altogether to pursue an agenda of intimidation, brutality and curbside executions. The reform measures we introduced are necessary steps toward restoring that lost confidence. The CLBC has a legacy of pursuing policies that ensure public safety means safety for everyone,” said Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber Chair of the CLBC.

Members of CLBC voted unanimously to add the following bills to the 2020 legislative package to build on the needed change within the criminal justice and public safety systems:

AB 1185 Sheriff Oversight — Strengthens existing citizen Sheriff Oversight bodies and helps increase transparency and accountability — not to mention preventing expensive taxpayer use of force settlements.

AB 1196 Carotid Chokehold — Ends the use of this practice by law enforcement in California.

AB 1506 Independent Investigations for Police Deadly Force — Would create an opt-in Department of Justice Deadly Force Oversight Division to investigate officer-involved shootings and use-of-force incidents.

AB 2342 Parole Reintegration Credits — Allows formerly incarcerated to reduce their parole term by going to college or actively engaging in community volunteer activities.

Bills to be introduced:

Duty to Intervene and Report — When in a position to do so, officers shall report and intervene when they know or have reason to know, that another officer is about to use, or is using, unnecessary force.

Peace Officer Decertification — Prevents peace officers, who have been let go for misconduct, from moving around from one law enforcement agency to another.