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Frazier bills advance

Thursday, April 18, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Several bills authored by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) have advanced after winning committee approvals.

Press Releases

Committee advances Frazier bill to clear statewide backlog of untested rape kits

Friday, April 12, 2019

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Public Safety Committee unanimously approved a bill by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) to clear a years-long backlog of rape kits that have not been tested.

Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Vacaville, which last year launched a successful campaign to clear a backlog of untested kits in their community, AB 1496 would mandate that all rape kits in law enforcement possession be sent to labs for testing within six months and for labs to process the kits quickly. It would also require rapid turnaround of all future rape kit evidence that is collected statewide.

“Collection of sexual assault forensic evidence can be a re-traumatizing experience for victims of sex crimes,” Frazier said. “Survivors expect kits to be tested quickly. Yet tens of thousands of rape kits remain untested in California. Requiring the prompt testing of the existing backlog of rape kit evidence will help law enforcement identify and convict serial offenders. Ensuring that future rape kits be tested promptly will help survivors receive justice.”

Press Releases

Frazier: The Delta region is held hostage by Southern California special interests

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), co-chair of the Legislature’s Delta Caucus, spoke out in frustration when his bill to increase local representation on the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) died in a committee hearing after Southern California water special interests lobbied against it.

The DSC consists of seven voting members; only one of these represents the Delta. Frazier’s AB 1194 would have added four voting members from the Delta region to the Council.

“Time and again, the voices of my Delta neighbors have been silenced or dismissed,” said Frazier, presenting AB 1194 to the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. “The interests of Southern California water agencies have been totally prioritized, while the goal of protecting the Delta’s ecosystem has been ignored and diminished, even violated.”

Press Releases

Frazier bill aims to increase prosecutions of those who target the disabled in sex crimes

Monday, April 8, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, has introduced a bill to help protect people with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability from being targeted for sexual assaults.

Press Releases

Frazier issues statement opposing proposed federal cuts to Special Olympics

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, issued the following statement today after U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testified before Congress in defense of a Trump administration proposal to cut all Education Department funding for Special Olympics.

Press Releases

Death of autistic boy after being restrained by staff at El Dorado Hills special needs school prompts Frazier bill

Monday, March 25, 2019

AB1172 requires greater oversight of nonpublic schools

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) has introduced a bill to better protect special needs students at nonpublic schools by expanding local and state oversight of these schools.

Frazier, chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, is authoring AB 1172 in response to the November 2018 death of a 13-year-old autistic student after he was improperly restrained by staff at a nonpublic school in El Dorado Hills.

“This boy’s death was a tragedy that should never have happened,” Frazier said. “These schools serve the most vulnerable members of our society. An investigation revealed this school routinely employed practices and procedures that were incorrect and exposed students to severe harm. AB 1172 will help ensure that local education authorities and the state are able to more closely monitor these nonpublic schools and enable early intervention if problems develop.”