CHELSEA’S LAW PASSES ASSEMBLY

June 3, 2010 (Sacramento) By a unanimous 65-0 vote, the state Assembly today passed Chelsea’s Law, AB 1844.  Named for murdered Poway High School student Chelsea King, the measure toughens penalties on child predators and creates a one-strike law for the most serious offenders.

"The violent sexual predator that goes after a child is a particular kind of evil and should be treated as such,” said Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego), author of the bill. “AB 1844 ensures that those who commit a crime of this nature are effectively kept from engaging in even more atrocious crimes upon release, and that those who commit the worst violent sexual crimes against children are put away for life.”

Assemblymember Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista), co-author of Chelsea’s Law, praised passage of the measure and said she looks forward to working with Fletcher to win passage in the Senate. "As a mother, I know that nothing is more important than protecting our children," said Salas. "I’m proud to be a co-author of Chelsea's Law which will fix the flaws in our current one-strike law. The current law allowed a sexual predator to be released from prison, only to claim the lives of two young San Diegans. We cannot allow this to happen again and signing Chelsea’s Law into law is an important protection for our families."