SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 9, 2016) – A California bill that would restrict warrantless drone surveillance by state and local law enforcement passed its final Assembly committee last Wednesday. If ultimately signed into law, the legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state.…
The governor’s proposal for the California budget includes funding to come into full compliance with the REAL ID. This portion – at very least – needs to be REJECTED by the state Assembly. REAL ID essentially establishes a national ID and prohibits the use of state IDs (driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs) for “federal purposes”…
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (May 2, 2016) – Last month, the Manhattan Beach City Council approved a measure to fund a network of automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras that would scan every vehicle at seven entry points into the city. State legislation could curb such intrusive use of surveillance technology. According to the Beach Reporter, the…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 26, 2016) – A California bill that would restrict warrantless drone surveillance by state and local law enforcement unanimously passed a second Assembly committee last week. If ultimately signed into law, the legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state.…
The following is a letter from California resident and activist Brian Gonzalez to his Assembly representative on SB443. This bill takes on Asset Forfeiture in the state, and would close a huge federal loophole that allows local police in California circumvent state-level asset forfeiture restrictions by “passing off” cases to federal agents and still getting up…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 1, 2016) – An important California Assembly committee unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. A massive bipartisan coalition of 29 Assembly members introduced Assembly Bill 1668 (AB1668) on…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (March 17, 2016) – A California bill that would restrict warrantless drone surveillance by state and local law enforcement unanimously passed an important Assembly committee this week. If ultimately signed into law, the legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2016) – After a Gov. Jerry Brown veto killed a similar effort last year, California will try again to set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. A massive bipartisan coalition of 29 Assembly member introduced…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2015) – On Sunday, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have effectively nullified in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that prevent terminally-ill patients from accessing experimental treatments. Introduced by Asm. Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) and nine bipartisan co-sponsors, Assembly Bill 159 (AB159) would have given terminally ill…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2015) – On Wednesday, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have stopped transfers of some battlefield-ready military equipment to state or local law enforcement agencies. His reasoning was a load of crap. Introduced by Asm. Nora Campos (D-San Jose), Assembly Bill 36 (AB36) would have unconditionally banned law enforcement…