| Kristie’s
Bill Introduced in California
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| On 2/20/04 Republican State Senator Sam Aanestad
introduced SB 1866, known as Kristie’s Law after
Kristie Priano, a Chico, California teenager who was the innocent victim of a Chico
Police Department pursuit in January, 2002. Kristie’s parents, Mark and Candy,
have worked hard for this bill since those tragic events. They have spoken to groups,
civilian and law enforcement, all over California, have made numerous media appearances,
locally and nationally and maintain a website, kristieslaw.org The hard work has paid off with the introduction of
Sen. Aanestad’s bill. Committee hearings are scheduled to begin April 13th. The bill
sets a minimum standard for pursuit policy/practice and offers immunity from financial
liability to departments who meet and follow the standard. Currently California law grants
blanket immunity to agencies if they have a policy. There is no minimum standard-nor do
they have to follow the policy to be immune. The bill is a giant leap forward for the
State of California and should be embraced by it's citizens and law enforcement
professionals. Accountability should never be feared-it is critical to good government. UPDATE! The hearing for Kristie's Law (SB 1866) took place in front of the California Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 13th. After the introduction of the bill by Sen. Aanestad and testimony by Mark and Candy Priano and myself the opponents of the bill were given the opportunity to express themselves. A host of Law Enforcement representatives stepped to the witness table. After a self-serving statement from the first opponent of the bill about he was moved to tears by the Priano's story he launched into a litany of often discredited clichés about why the police need wide discretion in pursuit policy. [Continued] UPDATE! Kristie's Law passed the Public Safety Committee today 4-yes votes, 1 no and 1 abstention. (4/20/04) NEWS FLASH! Kristie's Law met with unexpected resistance in the Judiciary Committee and was not passed out of committee with a vote of 3-yes, 1-no and 3 abstention. the bill was then granted reconsideration by the committee (6-0-1) and will be heard by the committee as on Tuesday May 4th. |
| Resources: Text of SB 1866 Status, History and Analyses of the Bill (SB 1866) Apellate Court case describing California pursuit liabilty immunity as a "Get out of liability free card" Sen. Gloria Romero's SB 219 (Police pursuit liability) defeated in 2003 California Senate Public Safety Committee California Senate Judiciary Committee Kristieslaw.org Jim Phillips letter to Sen. Aanestad supporting Kristie's Law Senator Aanestads website Candy Priano letter to Sen. Annestad PursuitWatch Press Release Mark Priano testimony Candy Priano testimony Jim Phillips testimony |
| Series of articles in the Chico Enterprise-Record about the
Kristie's Law September 3. 2003 September 11, 2003 January 7, 2004 January 13, 2004 February 3, 2004 March 21, 2004 April 13, 2004 April 14, 2004 April 21, 2004 April 24, 2004 Other media coverage: Los Angeles Times "Proposed Law Would Limit Police Chases" April 12, 2004 Modesto Bee "Senate commitee ponders limiting high-speed chases" April 13, 2004 Sacramento Bee "Grieving parents ask limits on chase" April 14, 2004 Fresno Bee "Bill puts limits on police pursuits" April 14, 2004 LA Fox News Channel "California Law Aims to Limit Police Chases" April 14, 2004 AP "End police immunity in high-speed pursuits, bill says" April 20, 2004 NOTE-Kristie's law only ends police immunity if they don't follow department policy. Record Searchlight "Limits on police chases sought" May 1, 2004 |
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