Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, joined his colleagues in rejecting legislation introduced by Democrats that would have established an unaccountable new sentencing commission with wide authority to alter California’s mandatory sentencing laws. Smyth said it would weaken California’s tough-on-crime public safety laws and place families at risk.
“I am glad that criminals will continue to be held accountable for crimes they have committed,” Smyth said, “It would be unfair to the families of the victims to do otherwise.”
Senate Bill 110 by Senator Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, would have established a new California Sentencing Commission, which would have been given nearly-unchecked powers to alter the state’s mandatory sentencing laws, with very little input from the Legislature. Smyth argued the measure was unconstitutional, as only the Legislature and the people have the power to enact or change laws, not an unelected commission.
Right now, lawmakers, through legislation, and the people, through ballot initiatives, have the final say over prison sentencing. SB 110 would have thrown out these current standards, giving the final decision to an unaccountable, unelected body of commissioners, many of whom would have been appointed by Sacramento politicians. Any changes to sentencing laws proposed by the commission would become law, unless the Legislature voted to overturn them.
Smyth noted the commission would have had nearly-unlimited powers to set limits on how much of a career criminal’s record could be considered by a sentencing judge, thus requiring judges to ignore lengthy criminal histories when sentencing convicted criminals.
“SB 110 was a dangerous bill that would have potentially released repeat criminals back onto our streets. My republican colleagues and I have been steadfast in our effort to keep our communities safe,” noted Smyth.
Senate Bill 110 was defeated by the State Assembly with Republicans united in opposition.