Newsom Signs DA-Sponsored Bill Strengthening Sexual Battery Laws
A crucial measure that closes a legal loophole in California’s sexual battery laws, Senate Bill 442, has been signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Senator Monique Limón and sponsored by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, SB 442 expands the definition of misdemeanor sexual battery to include instances where a perpetrator forces a victim to touch the intimate body part of the perpetrator or another person.
Governor Signs AB 2432 Providing New Revenue Stream for Victim Assistance
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2432, authored by California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, and strongly supported by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. AB 2432 will allow state courts to levy increased monetary penalties on corporations convicted of criminal offenses. Such penalties would, in turn, provide much-needed funding for crime victim service programs in California. These programs provide free medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages, courtroom advocacy, and temporary housing, to victims and their families.