A new bill that would prevent prisons from turning over certain newly released undocumented immigrants to federal authorities for deportation passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee April 12. Assembly Bill 1306—also known as the Harmonizing Our Measures for Equality (HOME Act) and authored by lawmaker Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles)—will build off previous legislation that failed…

Voting Inmate Voting (ACA 4) Assemblyman Isaac Bryan’s (D-Culver City) bill would amend the state Constitution to allow inmates that are incarcerated for felonies to vote while still in prison. If passed by a two-thirds vote in both the Assembly and Senate, it would then require a majority of voters statewide to pass. Under current…

California legislators introduced a bill last week that would allow children ages 12 and older to consent to mental health services or counseling without parent permission. Currently, the state allows minors over 12 to consent to such if they are “mature enough to participate intelligently” and if the child is in an abusive situation or…