2008 LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP: Disappointments; Notable Wins

The 2008 legislative session was a disappointing term with some notable bright spots. Though several important ACLU-supported bills were signed into law, the governor vetoed a majority of the bills we backed. Especially disheartening was the governor’s three-year run of vetoing our criminal justice reform legislation. On the up side, the governor took an important first step in protecting millions of Californians who could be put at risk by radio frequency identification (RFID) tags – a priority the ACLU-NC has been working hard on in Sacramento for several years.
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Where We Stand
Read a brief summary of all the bills that the ACLU-NC was monitoring in 2008, including our position on each. For a list of our priority bills, click here.
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Legislation Would Have Restored the Public’s Right to Know about Police Conduct
For over 30 years, the ACLU of Northern California has championed independent public civilian oversight of police departments in Northern California. A recent California Supreme Court decision, Copley Press v. Superior Court, has shut out the public’s access to police records and hearings, effectively drawing a cloak of secrecy over police conduct.
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