San Diego City Wire

The California Senate has unanimously approved Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones’s (R-San Diego) bipartisan Senate Bill 1074, known as the “Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act” (SAFE Act). The bill received strong bipartisan support, with thousands of Californians signing a petition in favor of the legislation.

“After three years, I’m thrilled that the California Senate finally passed our bipartisan SAFE Act,” said Leader Jones. “Sexually violent predators have committed the most heinous and violent sex crimes. As legislators, we have a duty to ensure the safety of our communities when the court orders the release of these dangerous predators. The SAFE Act, together with our ongoing audit, will help fix this broken and alarming predator release program. We are hoping to keep up the momentum with the SAFE Act in the Assembly and send it to the governor’s desk.”

The SAFE Act aims to prevent what critics describe as secretive placements of sexually violent predators (SVPs) into family-friendly neighborhoods without regard for public safety. Specifically, SB 1074 would require that the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) ensures its vendor, Liberty Healthcare, considers public safety when placing SVPs. Additionally, it mandates that DSH approve any placements before Liberty Healthcare can sign leases for placement locations.

Sexually violent predators are individuals convicted of sexually violent offenses and diagnosed with mental disorders that predispose them to be a danger to others with a high likelihood of reoffending. When courts order their conditional release, DSH allows Liberty Healthcare to house SVPs in various communities across California. A recent report indicates that housing a single SVP costs taxpayers over $456,000 annually.

The SAFE Act passed unanimously on a 37-0 vote in the Senate and now heads to the Assembly for consideration. The bill is coauthored by Senators Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson), Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach), Roger W. Niello (R-Fair Oaks), Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), and Assemblymembers Juan Alanis (R-Modesto), Megan Dahle (R-Bieber), Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin), and Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center).

Leader Jones has been actively opposing SVP placements in San Diego County for several years. Last year, he secured an audit of Liberty Healthcare, which oversees SVP placements under state contract. The audit results are expected to be released in Fall 2024.