CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 3115Introduced by Assembly Member GipsonFebruary 16, 2018 An act to relating to prisoners. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 3115, as introduced, Gipson. Prisoners: civic education.Under existing law a person is entitled to register to vote if he or she is a United State citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election. Existing law, for purposes of determining who is entitled to register to vote, defines imprisoned as currently serving a state or federal prison sentence. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) In California, the majority of individuals who are imprisoned in the state prison are people of color. Many of these individuals are not able to vote after they have committed felonies. However, it is crucial for these individuals to receive proper civic education while incarcerated and on parole so that they are able to stay educated and exercise their rights when they are able to do so.(2) Complex laws and a lack of transparency about voting rights confuse the community and create greater distrust in government.(3) It is important to connect candidates and issues on the ballot to issues that affect the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated communities, which can range from criminal justice reform, juvenile incarceration, and K12 policy that if changed one way or another could impact the lives of children and families who might have been on a path to prison.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 3115Introduced by Assembly Member GipsonFebruary 16, 2018 An act to relating to prisoners. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 3115, as introduced, Gipson. Prisoners: civic education.Under existing law a person is entitled to register to vote if he or she is a United State citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election. Existing law, for purposes of determining who is entitled to register to vote, defines imprisoned as currently serving a state or federal prison sentence. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 3115
Introduced by Assembly Member GipsonFebruary 16, 2018
Introduced by Assembly Member Gipson
February 16, 2018
An act to relating to prisoners.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 3115, as introduced, Gipson. Prisoners: civic education.
Under existing law a person is entitled to register to vote if he or she is a United State citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election. Existing law, for purposes of determining who is entitled to register to vote, defines imprisoned as currently serving a state or federal prison sentence. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
Under existing law a person is entitled to register to vote if he or she is a United State citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election. Existing law, for purposes of determining who is entitled to register to vote, defines imprisoned as currently serving a state or federal prison sentence.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) In California, the majority of individuals who are imprisoned in the state prison are people of color. Many of these individuals are not able to vote after they have committed felonies. However, it is crucial for these individuals to receive proper civic education while incarcerated and on parole so that they are able to stay educated and exercise their rights when they are able to do so.(2) Complex laws and a lack of transparency about voting rights confuse the community and create greater distrust in government.(3) It is important to connect candidates and issues on the ballot to issues that affect the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated communities, which can range from criminal justice reform, juvenile incarceration, and K12 policy that if changed one way or another could impact the lives of children and families who might have been on a path to prison.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) In California, the majority of individuals who are imprisoned in the state prison are people of color. Many of these individuals are not able to vote after they have committed felonies. However, it is crucial for these individuals to receive proper civic education while incarcerated and on parole so that they are able to stay educated and exercise their rights when they are able to do so.(2) Complex laws and a lack of transparency about voting rights confuse the community and create greater distrust in government.(3) It is important to connect candidates and issues on the ballot to issues that affect the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated communities, which can range from criminal justice reform, juvenile incarceration, and K12 policy that if changed one way or another could impact the lives of children and families who might have been on a path to prison.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole.
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) In California, the majority of individuals who are imprisoned in the state prison are people of color. Many of these individuals are not able to vote after they have committed felonies. However, it is crucial for these individuals to receive proper civic education while incarcerated and on parole so that they are able to stay educated and exercise their rights when they are able to do so.(2) Complex laws and a lack of transparency about voting rights confuse the community and create greater distrust in government.(3) It is important to connect candidates and issues on the ballot to issues that affect the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated communities, which can range from criminal justice reform, juvenile incarceration, and K12 policy that if changed one way or another could impact the lives of children and families who might have been on a path to prison.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole.
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(1) In California, the majority of individuals who are imprisoned in the state prison are people of color. Many of these individuals are not able to vote after they have committed felonies. However, it is crucial for these individuals to receive proper civic education while incarcerated and on parole so that they are able to stay educated and exercise their rights when they are able to do so.
(2) Complex laws and a lack of transparency about voting rights confuse the community and create greater distrust in government.
(3) It is important to connect candidates and issues on the ballot to issues that affect the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated communities, which can range from criminal justice reform, juvenile incarceration, and K12 policy that if changed one way or another could impact the lives of children and families who might have been on a path to prison.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide voter education programs in prisons and county jails, to provide both written and verbal information about voting rights during release from prison or jail, and to educate incarcerated communities about the right to vote upon completion of parole.