California Proposition 36, despite receiving overwhelming support, has yet to receive adequate funding from Governor Newsom to ensure full implementation. Community leader Li Shaomin has called on California residents to contact the governor and urge the government to allocate funds to support the execution of the law.
The proposition, which officially took effect last December, increases penalties for repeat theft offenders and those in possession or trafficking of fentanyl drugs, as well as introduces mandatory drug treatment measures. Since its implementation, numerous theft and drug offenders have been arrested across the state and are facing serious criminal charges.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office of California, the law is estimated to increase annual expenditures by tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. The state government predicts that Proposition 36 will lead to an increase of 3,000 to 4,000 inmates in prisons and has stated that related funds have been included in the budget plan.
However, Newsom’s budget proposal does not include funding for the mandatory drug treatment measures, intended to allow offenders to eliminate serious criminal records through rehabilitation or mental health therapy, but the lack of resources may hinder its implementation.
Li Shaomin, Vice President of the California Anti-Drug Alliance, told Epoch Times that the state government allocates $5 billion annually for providing healthcare benefits to illegal immigrants, while Proposition 36 only requires 1% to 2% of that amount to be realized but has yet to receive funding, raising questions. He mentioned that within just over a month of implementation in Tulare County, 90 theft cases have been prosecuted, showing the effectiveness of the new law, which should receive sufficient funding support.
He emphasized that Proposition 36 truly reflects public opinion and is a “popular demand.” It was passed last November with a 70% to 30% majority, achieving the highest approval rate for a proposition in California and receiving bipartisan support with 65% of Democratic voters in favor. The law, which enhances penalties for repeat theft and drug crimes, is crucial for maintaining the safety of California residents.
Li Shaomin bluntly stated that if Newsom continues to withhold funding, obstructing the implementation of the new law, it will affect his reputation nationwide and be detrimental to his potential presidential campaign in four years. He added that the new law requires offenders in possession of heavy drugs to successfully complete drug treatment to avoid incarceration, a measure that benefits multiple parties. However, the lack of funds may lead to shortages of drug treatment facilities and professionals, affecting the efficacy of the implementation. Therefore, there is a collective need to urge Governor Newsom to allocate funds to support Proposition 36.
Yesterday (Tuesday), California senators initiated discussions on the funding issue of Proposition 36. According to KCRA 3 News, judicial officials in California estimate an additional 30,000 to 40,000 serious criminal cases per year statewide, putting a heavier burden on the court system. Officials from the Judicial Council of California, including Francine Byrne, mentioned that approximately 56% of cases involve theft, while 44% are related to drug crimes.
Jennifer Jennison, a public defender in Stanislaus County, stated that since January, the county has filed over 140 serious criminal cases, with many defendants still awaiting necessary services in jail. She emphasized the lack of drug treatment programs in the area and an overburdened mental health system.
Li Shaomin mentioned that the California District Attorneys Association is still negotiating with the governor regarding funding for the new law, as Newsom has not immediately approved funds possibly due to political considerations. He remains cautiously optimistic about the governor eventually allocating funds and urges the public to express their support through emails to the governor, urging the allocation of funds to be realized.
Over the next four months, legislators and the governor will determine the amount of funding for Proposition 36 through the budget process and finalize the spending plan by the end of June.
* Visit the governor’s contact page: https://gov.ca.gov/contact/
* Choose “Other” and then click on “Leave a Comment.”
* Fill out the message, for example: “Prop 36 was approved by an overwhelming 70% of voters.” or “Please allocate adequate funding to this new law to protect Californians properly.”
* Provide your name and email, and submit the message. ◇