๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
PLACERVILLE, Calif. โ July 29, 2026 โ California law enforcement leaders, district attorneys, business leaders, crime victims, and community advocates from across the state joined together Tuesday for a statewide virtual press conference urging lawmakers to reject AB 2108, legislation that would undermine Proposition 36โthe voter-approved initiative approved by nearly 70 percent of California voters, including 65% of Democratic voters.
Representing organizations from across California, speakers delivered a unified message: Proposition 36 reflected the clear will of California voters, and any effort to weaken its accountability provisions undermines both public safety and the integrity of the initiative process.
โAs one of the principal architects of Proposition 36, I can say with certainty that California voters approved a carefully balanced measure that restored accountability for repeat offenders while preserving opportunities for treatment and rehabilitation,โ said El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson. โAB 2108 threatens to unravel that balance by weakening the very repeat-offender provisions voters overwhelmingly approved. This is about more than public safetyโit is about respecting the democratic process.โ
Throughout the press conference, speakers emphasized that Proposition 36 represents one of the clearest public safety mandates delivered by California voters in recent years. They expressed concern that AB 2108 would weaken the accountability framework established by Proposition 36 by expanding diversion opportunities for repeat theft offenders, undermining the intent of the voter-approved initiative and diminishing the voice of California voters.
The coalition encouraged Californians to contact their state legislators and urge them to reject AB 2108, preserve Proposition 36, and honor the overwhelming mandate delivered by nearly 70 percent of California voters.