♦Committee Jurisdiction

Legislation amending the following: a) Evidence Code, relating to criminal procedure; b) Penal Code;
c) statutes of a penal nature not related closely to a subject included in another subdivision of this rule; and
d) legislation relating to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

For information on how to submit a position letter by using the advocacy portal please see the directions below:

Advocacy Quick Reference Guide

Support and opposition letters are due by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday of the week prior to the hearing.

• Letters must be on letterhead with signature and title of an official of the organization or designated representative.
• Coalition letters must have logos, signatures, and titles for all organizations.
• Letters of conditional support will not be listed on the analysis.
• Letters must clearly indicate position (letters containing "concern" may not be listed).

Letters can also be sent to the Committee through any of the following ways:

• During COVID, the best way for us to receive position letters on all legislation is via the advocacy portal.
• Using the Advocacy Portal by clicking on the "Submit Position Letter" icon above.

• If you wish to mail your letter it may be mailed to us at: Senate Public Safety Committee, Legislative Office Building, Room 545 Sacramento, CA 95814. During COVID, because we are working remotely, there is no guarantee that a letter sent by mail will be reflected in the analysis, although once received we will reflect it in future analyses.

Teleconference Instructions:

Due to the health and safety risks associated with the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Senate will continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Accordingly, seating for Senate proceedings will continue to be limited to the extent social distancing allows. All are encouraged to watch our hearing from its live stream on the Senate’s website at https://www.senate.ca.gov/

We encourage the public to submit written testimony before the hearing through the position letter portal. Please note that any written testimony submitted to the committee is considered public comment and may be read into the record or reprinted.

The Capitol will be open for attendance of committee hearings, but the public is strongly encouraged to participate via the web portal or telephonically.

Information regarding a call-in option for testimony will be made available and updated the night prior to the hearing date.

Senate Committee on Public Safety hearing call-in information for 

PARTICIPANT NUMBER:       

ACCESS CODE:       

Please note: In order for your testimony to be heard clearly, you must mute any devices you are using to live stream the committee hearing prior to calling into the teleconference service. Please do not testify using speakerphone or bluetooth, this can cause acoustic feedback and make it very difficult to hear your testimony. 

• Upon calling in, you will be placed in a “waiting room” where you will be muted but you can listen to the committee hearing as you wait.
• When a committee moves to public comment, a moderator will ask for anyone who is wishing to testify in “Support” of the bill to please press 1-0.  The moderator will again prompt those waiting in “Opposition” when the committee moves to opposition.  You should press 1-0 when you are prompted by the moderator – be sure to listen for support or opposition and DO NOT press 1-0 until the proper position has been asked for. 
• When you press 1-0 on your phone, you will wait and an operator will assign you a line number, at that time you will be placed in the queue for identification.  Remember your line number, the moderator will call out that number to identify YOU when it is your turn to testify. 
• OF IMPORTANT NOTE: If you press 1-0 a second time, you will remove yourself from the queue and you will not be identified to testify. Every time you press 1-0 you either put yourself “In queue” or take yourself “Out of queue” so listen carefully, and press 1-0 only once when you are prompted by the moderator.
• When you are successfully in the queue, with your assigned line number, the moderator will call out your line number, open your line, and at that time you may address the committee. You must have your own phone unmuted before you begin testimony.

A more detailed explanation of the teleconference instructions can be found by clicking the “Teleconference Instructions”

DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOU

To protect public health and slow the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the State Capitol is closed to the public.  However, we are working remotely to continue to serve you. 

• We are receiving office phone calls and responding to all email communication during the business hours of 9:00 am ~ 5:00 pm ~ Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. 
• We will continue to receive position letters on all legislation via the advocacy portal and mail.
• We will continue to keep our website up to date on the status of our bill hearings.

Please note the various ways we are available to assist you:

Committee phone: (916) 651-4118

Consultants:

       Mary Kennedy: mary.kennedy@sen.ca.gov

       Alex Barnett: alex.barnett@sen.ca.gov

       Stella Choe: stella.choe@sen.ca.gov

       Stephanie Jordan: stephanie.jordan@sen.ca.gov

 Committee Assistants:

      Sarah Loftin:  sarah.loftin@sen.ca.gov

      Jarad Hollingshead: jarad.hollingshead@sen.ca.gov

Members:

Senator Steven Bradford (Chair)
Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (Vice Chair)
Senator Sydney Kamlager
Senator Nancy Skinner
Senator Scott D. Wiener