YUBA CITY – Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher released the following statement celebrating Proposition 36 taking effect today after it was passed by an overwhelming supermajority of voters in the November election:
“With Prop. 36 now in effect, today marks the beginning of a new era of accountability in California. The message sent by voters was clear – if you repeatedly break the law by stealing or selling hard drugs, there will be consequences. With this new law, California must fully fund the law enforcement, corrections and treatment services necessary to implement these accountability measures.
“Crime is finally illegal again. I’m looking forward to an end to the lawlessness and chaos that have become trademarks of California under Gavin Newsom.”
Prop. 36 made the following reforms to California’s criminal justice system:
- Make shoplifters eligible for felony prosecution after three or more offenses.
- Allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of merchandise stolen during multiple thefts to reach the $950 felony threshold.
- Increase penalties for smash-and-grab robberies committed by large groups.
- Require hard-drug offenders to receive addiction treatment or face a felony charge after three or more offenses.
- Adopt “Alexandra’s Law,” warning fentanyl dealers that they could be prosecuted for murder if they continue selling the drug and someone dies as a result.
This summer, Gov. Newsom and Democrat lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to sabotage Prop. 36 by inserting poison pills into unrelated public safety legislation and proposing a competing soft-on-crime ballot measure intended to confuse voters.
In September, Gov. Newsom insulted Californians by saying “I was wondering what state I was living in,” after a poll found 71% of likely voters supported Prop. 36.
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Assemblyman James Gallagher represents the 3rd Assembly District, which encompasses all of Butte, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties as well as portions of Placer County.