Assembly Public Safety Committee Will Hold Special Hearing on Fentanyl Bills

*Fentanyl press conference outside California State Capitol on April 18, 2023. (Photo: Courtesy Assemblyman Jim Patterson’s Office*)

SACRAMENTO, CA (KMJ) – On Thursday morning, Assembly Democrats approved a special hearing of the Assembly Public Safety Committee to hear five fentanyl bills that they refused to hear previously.

Previously, Assembly Public Safety Committee Chairman, Jones-Sawyer, a democrat from Los Angeles, had announced that the committee would refuse to hear any more bills combating the fentanyl crisis.

Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson’s Office sent out a media release on Thursday morning, to announce a new development that came about after Tuesday’s hearing.

Powerful, emotional pleas from families of fentanyl overdose victims. They continue to fight with us as we try to get laws passed to hold fentanyl dealers accountable. The Assembly Public Safety Committee has done NOTHING to keep us safe from these dealers. We demand action now. pic.twitter.com/eDj5jMhJpN
— Jim Patterson (@JimPatterson559) April 18, 2023

Assemblyman Patterson spoke to KMJ’s Ray Appleton on Thursday saying that there was massive media coverage during the press conference held Tuesday outside the California State Capitol.

They spoke in front of a dump truck that would hold up to 28,000 pounds to show the amount of fentanyl that was seized in California in 2022.

The press conference featuring the tragic stories conveyed by victims of their losses of family members to fentanyl overdoses.

The fentanyl epidemic is killing 500 Californians every month.

Patterson said reporters stood there on the lawn outside the Capitol, holding microphones in the faces of lawmakers to ask questions why the various fentanyl bills were not being heard.

The media coverage spread throughout the state.

Patterson said that changed the minds of legislators, there in Sacramento.

I’m thankful for the media, and I’m also thankful for the victims and, quite frankly, I’m also thankful that, in this particular instance, the hearts and minds of those in the highest leadership in this Assembly saw the light, and we’re going to have the light turned on in that hearing room.
-Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson

The hearing is now scheduled for Thursday, April 27, 2023, upon adjournment of session in room 126.

Democrats are finally moving to take action on #fentanyl. They are speaking out where they have been absolutely silent. Why? Because the loud voices of people and pressure from the media is forcing them to act.https://t.co/epec1SWQ9s
— Jim Patterson (@JimPatterson559) April 20, 2023

Assemblyman Patterson will present his bill, AB 1058, at that time.

The bills to be heard are:

AB 33 (Jasmeet Bains) – to establish a Fentanyl Addiction and Overdose Prevention Task Force.
AB 367 (Brian Maienschein) – add a sentencing enhancement for fentanyl dealers who kill or seriously injure people they sell the drug to.
AB 474 (Freddie Rodriguez) – prioritize cooperation between state and local law enforcement to disrupt fentanyl trafficking organizations.
AB 675 (Esmeralda Soria) – prohibit carrying a gun while in possession of fentanyl.
AB 955 (Cottie Petrie-Norris) – increase penalties for fentanyl dealers who sell on social media.
AB 1058 (Jim Patterson) – increase penalties for those possessing large quantities of fentanyl.

Ahead of the hearing next Thursday, April 27, Republicans are urging Californians to contact the members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee to urge them to approve these bills.

The Republican members of the committee have pledged to support the proposals.

The contact information for the committee members is:

Chair: Asm. Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer (Democrat)

(916) 319-2057

Vice-Chair: Asm. Juan Alanis (Republican)

(916) 319-2022

Asm. Mia Bonta (Democrat)

(916) 319-2018

Asm. Isaac Bryan (Democrat)

(916) 319-2055

Asm. Tom Lackey (Republican)

(916) 319-2034