Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) announced that while many of her bills are continuing to move forward this legislative session, two of her priority bills were held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee today.
Senator Shannon Grove made the following statements in response to the committee holding these bills:
Senate Bill 1373 (Mental Health Diversion Reform)
“For far too long, California’s Mental Health Diversion program has been used as a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card by violent offenders. SB 1373 would have closed dangerous gaps in the law by allowing an evidentiary hearing and giving judges the information necessary to deny diversion when a defendant is attempting to abuse the program, while still ensuring legitimate mental health treatment cases can move forward.
“While the Legislature has made recent changes to the law, those reforms simply do not go far enough. Children are being assaulted, victims are being abused, and lives are being taken by violent repeat offenders who exploit this program, only to walk away with a clean record when diversion is granted.
“I am profoundly disappointed that the Assembly Appropriations Committee chose to kill SB 1373 rather than strengthen protections for Californians who are being killed and victimized by violent repeat offenders. Victims deserve better.”
Senate Bill 899 (Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force)
“I am deeply disappointed that SB 899 was killed in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. California spends billions every year fighting wildfires and rebuilding the communities they destroy, yet we continue to ignore one of their most devastating costs: the public health impact of wildfire smoke.
Toxic smoke blankets the Central Valley and communities across our state for weeks at a time, contributing to serious respiratory and cardiovascular illness and harming our children, families, and outdoor workforce. SB 899 would have given California the data needed to understand these costs and better protect public health. Refusing to even quantify the damage does not make it disappear. We cannot afford to keep ignoring this devastating public health threat.”
Senator Grove remains committed to fighting for stronger public safety laws, victim protections, and accountability in state government.