Public safety measure left unfunded despite backing from every county in California
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom’s May budget revision proposes zero dollars for Proposition 36. Assembly Republicans held a press conference today demanding that change.
Prop. 36 passed with nearly 70 percent of the vote and in all 58 counties. It replaced incarceration with mandatory treatment for nonviolent drug offenders. Without funding for mental health and substance abuse programs, the law cannot be enforced. The promise of reform is dead on arrival.
“The governor is ignoring the will of the voters,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (East Nicolaus). “Californians demanded accountability. Newsom delivered nothing.”
Lawmakers were joined by district attorneys, law enforcement officials, and victim advocates who warned that Prop. 36 is meaningless unless the state invests in treatment infrastructure.
“We are asking the Governor to honor the will of the people and fully fund treatment under Prop 36,” said Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig.
“We need to fund Prop 36 immediately because we don’t need more victims,” added Alexa Hansen, Founder of Victim Advocate Angels.
Assembly Republicans will keep fighting to deliver what Newsom won’t: real reform, real treatment, and real public safety. The first step is exposing this broken promise.
