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<\/ul>\n<\/p><\/div>\n California lawmakers have less than two weeks to wrap up their work before the end of the legislative session on Aug. 31. And so begins the final legislative traffic jam, as bills line up for final votes. <\/p>\n \n A piece of legislation\u2019s particular place in that line is the complex product of political horse-trading, the competing priorities of the state Assembly and Senate and the whims of legislative leadership. So it\u2019s not always easy to predict when the final vote will come.\n<\/p>\n \n The timing for Sen. Maria Elena Durazo<\/a> was particularly unlucky.\n<\/p>\n \n As CalMatters politics intern Ariel Gans reports, the Los Angeles Democrat tested positive for COVID last week. So after more than two years of work, she missed the final legislative passage Thursday of a bill that expands the kinds of arrests and convictions that are deleted<\/a> from most criminal background checks.\n<\/p>\n \n The 28-10 vote in the Senate sent the legislation to Gov. Gavin Newsom. If he signs it, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2023.\u00a0 <\/p>\n \n Durazo told CalMatters that these records make it difficult for formerly incarcerated individuals to \u201cmove forward with their lives.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n But Sen. Shannon Grove<\/a>, a Bakersfield Republican, pointed out that the bill expands this relief to perpetrators of domestic violence. She joined other Republicans, plus Democratic Sen. Melissa Hurtado of Sanger, in voting no.\n<\/p>\n \n The Peace Officers Research Association of California also opposed the bill, warning that it would reduce deterrence for repeat offenses and jeopardize public safety.\n<\/p>\n \n But a long list of labor organizations and criminal justice reform groups supported the bill, arguing that the criminal records disproportionately limit access to jobs and housing for Black, Latino and poor Californians.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n Nearly one in three adults in California have a past arrest or conviction on their record, according to the Brennan Center for Justice<\/a>. While many cases are never prosecuted, in California, these incidents can remain on an individual\u2019s record until they\u2019re 100 years old.\n<\/p>\n \n The bill expands relief to those arrested for felonies who have not been prosecuted after three years, or six years for more serious felonies. The relief does not apply to a \u201cserious or violent\u201d felony, or felonies requiring registration as a sex offender. The state Assembly also amended the bill to require that criminal records be disclosed to school districts for hiring decisions.\n<\/p>\n \n Here are a few other bills that are on their way to the governor\u2019s desk:\n<\/p>\n \n When lawmakers weren\u2019t passing bills on Thursday, they were giving lengthy (and if you\u2019re Democratic Sen. Nancy Skinner of Berkeley, musical<\/a> and puppet-populated<\/a>) farewells to outgoing members.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n There are a lot of goodbyes in order. At least 22 members of the Assembly<\/a> and 9 members of the Senate won\u2019t be coming back next year. That\u2019s not including any members who lose their reelection bids to non-incumbents or win a job elsewhere this November<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n
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