SACRAMENTO—Today, the Assembly Public Safety Committee, with a 5-1 vote, passed legislation, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), to create a database of convicted domestic violence felon and repeat offenders. The legislation, AB 1771-The Domestic Violence Prevention and Right-to Know Act of 2008, would require the Attorney General to develop an online database that would report the name, date of birth, county and date of conviction for individuals convicted of felony domestic violence or multiple counts of misdemeanor domestic violence.
"AB 1771 will provide people with access to information that is already public," said Assemblywoman Ma, Chairwomen of the Assembly Select Committee on Domestic Violence. "Domestic violence has no place in our society and this bill will empower people to avoid potentially abusive relationships."
The committee heard compelling testimony from a number of witnesses including Alexis Moore, a domestic violence survivor and executive director of the sponsor of the bill—Survivors in Action.
"If I would have known that my abuser had a domestic violence conviction prior to our relationship, it may have saved me from permanent nerve damage," said Alexis Moore, President of Survivors in Action.
Jim Hammer, the former San Francisco prosecutor who proposed the bill, vowed to continue the effort across California.
"There is growing support all across California for domestic violence disclosure," said Mr. Hammer. "AB 1771 gives people the information and the power to do something about it."
AB 1771 will now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The database would keep updated information available for 10 years. It is believed that this would be a first in the nation law and would go into effect on January 1, 2009.
"AB 1771 will provide people with access to information that is already public," said Assemblywoman Ma, Chairwomen of the Assembly Select Committee on Domestic Violence. "Domestic violence has no place in our society and this bill will empower people to avoid potentially abusive relationships."
The committee heard compelling testimony from a number of witnesses including Alexis Moore, a domestic violence survivor and executive director of the sponsor of the bill—Survivors in Action.
"If I would have known that my abuser had a domestic violence conviction prior to our relationship, it may have saved me from permanent nerve damage," said Alexis Moore, President of Survivors in Action.
Jim Hammer, the former San Francisco prosecutor who proposed the bill, vowed to continue the effort across California.
"There is growing support all across California for domestic violence disclosure," said Mr. Hammer. "AB 1771 gives people the information and the power to do something about it."
AB 1771 will now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The database would keep updated information available for 10 years. It is believed that this would be a first in the nation law and would go into effect on January 1, 2009.
