SACRAMENTO. Calif. (Jan. 17, 2018) – A bill filled in the California Assembly would sever a link between state and federal tax law, allowing individuals to deduct expenses from legal marijuana businesses for state income tax purposes. Passage of the bill would encourage the growth of the legal marijuana market in California and further nullify unconstitutional…
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2018) – Yesterday, a California Senate committee passed a bill that would ban federal immigration officers from schools and state buildings unless they have a warrant. But questions remain on how the state could enforce it should it become law. Introduced by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and 16 co-sponsors,…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2017) – On Sunday, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that prohibits the state from cooperating with any federal efforts to create a database compiling personal information relating to a person’s religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations.The new law takes a step toward nullifying any attempts to create such…
Last week, California Gov. Jerry Brown put his signature on a bill to withdraw state resources from the enforcement of most federal immigration laws. While some people have argued this will open the door for immigrants to enter the U.S. through California and then spread into other states, the approach Texas took can minimize this…
It’s been quite some time since I’ve felt compelled to post anything here, politics is a useless blame game where both sides are increasingly the same. So feeling enough to want to sit down and crank something out that I … Continue reading
SACRAMENTO (Sept. 18, 2017) – On Saturday, the California Senate gave final approval to a bill to withdraw state resources from the enforcement of most federal immigration laws. Passage into law will likely have the effect of further nullifying those federal acts in practice. Introduced by Sen. President Kevin de Leon and 11 co-sponsors, Senate Bill 54…
In a previous report, we pointed out that simply passing laws isn’t enough. Ensuring government agencies comply with transparency requirements and limits on surveillance activities takes constant vigilance, pressure and activism. Some organizations in California are doing just that. In an effort to better understand how police in Los Angeles use automatic license plate readers, the…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept 5, 2017) – Last week, a bill that would have required all law enforcement agencies in the state to get local government approval before acquiring or using surveillance technology died in a California Assembly committee. Passage of the bill would have taken the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance…
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2017) – A recent Los Angeles Times review of documents relating to the use stingray devices submitted by California law enforcement agencies underscores that simply passing laws isn’t enough. Ensuring government agencies comply with legal requirements takes constant vigilance, pressure and activism. Cell site simulators, commonly known as “stingrays,” spoof…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 14, 2017) – Earlier this week, a second California Assembly committee passed a bill that would require all law enforcement agencies in the state to get local government approval before acquiring or using surveillance technology. Passage of the bill would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies…