SACRAMENTO (March 26, 2025) – Senator Angelique V. Ashby (D-Sacramento) introduced Senate Bill 319, the Public Safety Transparency Act on Wednesday, with the goal of ensuring the effective and transparent implementation of Proposition 36. The Steinberg Institute is sponsoring SB 319 and has identified it as a 2025 legislative priority that aligns with Vision 2030.
Passed by voters in 2024, Proposition 36 reclassified certain misdemeanors as felonies and required courts to establish treatment programs for individuals convicted under the new “treatment-mandated felony” designation. However, Proposition 36 did not include any additional funding or guidance for these programs. It also eliminated the Proposition 47 investment program, resulting in the loss of tens of millions of dollars designated for mental health and substance use treatment.
“Voters have given California a strong mandate to achieve Proposition 36’s goals and improve public safety through treatment, but have not outlined a roadmap or funding source to get there. SB 319 is a transparency bill that will ensure the voters will is implemented.” said Sen. Ashby.
SB 319 ensures that the state has the necessary information to allocate resources effectively and improve behavioral health outcomes within the criminal justice system. It establishes a statewide evaluation framework to track the implementation and impact of Proposition 36, ensuring that local resources are used efficiently. Key provisions include requiring the Superior Courts or the Department of Justice to collect and report essential data, such as:
- Expenses associated with operating mandated felony treatment programs;
- Number of individuals referred to and enrolled in treatment programs;
- Measurable outcomes such as recidivism rates, substance use disorder improvements, and program completion rates;
- Funding sources and spending data to ensure that state and local governments are leveraging all available financial resources.
With behavioral health and substance use disorder needs rising among incarcerated individuals, SB 319 provides a necessary framework for oversight. Currently, over half of California county jail inmates and 35% of the state prison population have mental health conditions, and Proposition 36 is expected to significantly increase that number.
“At a time when the need for behavioral health and substance use treatment in our criminal justice system is so great, we must ensure that every available dollar is used wisely,” said Steinberg Institute CEO Karen Larsen, “Without clear data and transparency, we cannot do that. SB 319 will provide critical insights to help us allocate resources effectively and improve behavioral health outcomes within our criminal justice system.”
“Our collective safety requires ensuring our state has the treatment and crime prevention infrastructure millions of Californians have needed for generations,” said Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, the state’s leading public safety advocacy organization. “It is critical we understand in real time whether and how the mass treatment promised by Proposition 36 is actually being made available to folks. This bill will help provide transparency to a public rightly demanding real results.”
SB 319 is sponsored by Californians for Safety and Justice in addition to the Steinberg Institute.
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About the Steinberg Institute
Founded in 2015 by former Sacramento Mayor and State Senate Pro Tem Emeritus Darrell Steinberg, the Steinberg Institute has been the driving force behind sweeping improvements in California behavioral health policy. The Institute is dedicated to transforming California’s mental health and substance use care systems through our Vision 2030 Initiative. Our Vision: California sets the standards for the nation in prevention, treatment and recovery, where all people receive quality care and support when, where, and for as long as they need it. Visit us at www.steinberginstitute.org.
About Californians for Safety and Justice
Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ), a program of Alliance for Safety and Justice, works with Californians from all walks of life to replace prison and justice system waste with common sense solutions that create safe neighborhoods. Through policy advocacy, grassroots mobilization, public education, alliances and support for local best practices, we promote strategies to stop the cycle of crime, reduce reliance on incarceration, and build healthy communities. Visit us at https://safeandjust.org/.
About Senator Angelique Ashby
Senator Angelique Ashby represents Sacramento County, serves in the California State Senate as Assistant Majority Leader and is Chair of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee. She is the first woman elected to represent the metropolitan area of Sacramento in the State Senate in more than 20 years. She previously served on the Sacramento City Council and was the sole woman for more than half of her 12-year tenure. She is also the only member in city history to serve as Vice Mayor or Mayor pro Tem for 8 years. She is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law, and earned her baccalaureate at the University of California at Davis. She and her husband Zac have three children and live in the City of Sacramento. For more information, visit Senator Ashby’s Website here or find her on Twitter at @SenatorAshby.