BILL NUMBER: ACR 45 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 34
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 21, 2011
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JUNE 21, 2011
ADOPTED IN SENATE JUNE 13, 2011
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 11, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 11, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Perea
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano,
Atkins, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter,
Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eng,
Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon,
Grove, Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger Hernández,
Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Lara, Logue, Bonnie
Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell,
Nestande, Nielsen, Olsen, Pan, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez,
Portantino, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao,
Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada)
APRIL 4, 2011
Relative to Crime Victims' Rights Week.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 45, Perea. Crime Victims' Rights Week.
This measure would declare the week of April 10, 2011, to April
16, 2011, inclusive, as Crime Victims' Rights Week.
WHEREAS, Violent crime continues to exist in California, and crime
in one part of the state, or crime against one person, affects our
entire sense of well-being; and
WHEREAS, All Californians are affected by crime, not just the
victims of violent crime; and
WHEREAS, The most effective aid that can be provided to victims of
crime is to prevent crime from happening in the first place; and
WHEREAS, Since 1981, National Crime Victims' Rights Week has
raised awareness of the special needs of crime victims; and
WHEREAS, This year, the theme for this week is the commemoration
of 30 years of National Crime Victims' Rights Week; and
WHEREAS, 2011 is a landmark year for crime victims and survivors,
as well as those who serve them; and
WHEREAS, The respect and protection of victims' rights within the
legal process is one of the most critical components of an effective
criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, Victims and witnesses of crime require special attention
to ensure that they are thoroughly informed about, and effectively
participate in, the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, To the maximum extent allowed by law, victims of violent
crime should receive compensation for their losses; and
WHEREAS, Each day thousands of victims and witnesses receive
assistance from victim support organizations, victim-witness
assistance centers, private service providers, and state and local
governments; and
WHEREAS, The criminal justice system in this state must persist in
its effort to better coordinate and improve the quality of services
provided to victims and witnesses; and
WHEREAS, California citizens enshrined victims' rights in the
California Constitution in 1982 through the passage of Proposition 8,
the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights; and
WHEREAS, California citizens reaffirmed and afforded additional
rights to victims in the California Constitution and in California
law in 2008 through the passage of Proposition 9, the Victims' Bill
of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the observance of National Crime Victims'
Rights Week focuses on the problems confronting victims of crime and
the services available to support these victims; and
WHEREAS, The remembrances observed during National Crime Victims'
Rights Week promote awareness of victims' issues and acknowledge the
combined efforts of citizens, the government, and the criminal
justice system to improve victims' services in California; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the week
of April 10, 2011, through April 16, 2011, inclusive, as Crime
Victims' Rights Week in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.