Sacramento— On Thursday, May 8th, AB 1852 by Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) passed the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. This measure will decriminalize participation in sports betting pools, which under current law is a misdemeanor or felony offense, punishable by up to a $5000 fine and up to a year in prison. "Whether it´s Super Bowl Sunday, March Madness or the NBA Playoffs, countless Californians will take part in harmless pools at their office or amongst their friends." Points out Jeffries, "And it just seems crazy to me that we would elevate this activity to such a high level of criminal prosecution."
This legislation was prompted by an incident that occurred a little over a year ago in the city of Lake Elsinore. Margaret Hamblin 73, and Cari Gardner, 39, both of Wildomar were charged with operating a $50 football pool at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge. Hamblin and Gardner both plead not guilty. "The state spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to prosecute these two over a $50 football pool?" Jeffries asks. "I am sure that there are more issues that law enforcement and our courts can be addressing."
AB 1852 would lesson this charge to an infraction punishable by a fine that is not to exceed $500. Jeffries believes that making this an infraction instead of a misdemeanor crime places this activity in a more appropriate category. "While our goal is not to legalize this sort of activity outright, we believe that it is important for the punishment to fit the crime", stated Jeffries.
AB 1852 now goes over to the State Senate, where it will join other bills sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffries that would assist volunteer and tribal fire departments, help charitable organizations, and aid a local water district. Several bills still await action in the Assembly Appropriations Committee or on the Assembly Floor, including bills to consolidate the state´s public safety agencies, to allow Riverside County Transportation Commission to construct new High Occupancy Toll Lanes on I-15, to turn portions of HWY 74 over to the Cities of Lake Elsinore and Perris, and to protect property owners from false land deed scams.
"I´m very proud of the well-rounded legislative package we have submitted this year, and I´m hopeful that most of these will make their way all the way through the process and into law," commented Jeffries.
This legislation was prompted by an incident that occurred a little over a year ago in the city of Lake Elsinore. Margaret Hamblin 73, and Cari Gardner, 39, both of Wildomar were charged with operating a $50 football pool at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge. Hamblin and Gardner both plead not guilty. "The state spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to prosecute these two over a $50 football pool?" Jeffries asks. "I am sure that there are more issues that law enforcement and our courts can be addressing."
AB 1852 would lesson this charge to an infraction punishable by a fine that is not to exceed $500. Jeffries believes that making this an infraction instead of a misdemeanor crime places this activity in a more appropriate category. "While our goal is not to legalize this sort of activity outright, we believe that it is important for the punishment to fit the crime", stated Jeffries.
AB 1852 now goes over to the State Senate, where it will join other bills sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffries that would assist volunteer and tribal fire departments, help charitable organizations, and aid a local water district. Several bills still await action in the Assembly Appropriations Committee or on the Assembly Floor, including bills to consolidate the state´s public safety agencies, to allow Riverside County Transportation Commission to construct new High Occupancy Toll Lanes on I-15, to turn portions of HWY 74 over to the Cities of Lake Elsinore and Perris, and to protect property owners from false land deed scams.
"I´m very proud of the well-rounded legislative package we have submitted this year, and I´m hopeful that most of these will make their way all the way through the process and into law," commented Jeffries.
