Elected officials from San Joaquin County sent a clear message when they stood together along with other elected officials from Southern California and introduced legislation that would add enhancements for those convicted of violent crimes targeting schools and places of worship.
And the bill would establish the Alycia “LaLa” Reynaga Act – named after the 15-year-old girl who was brutally killed in an on-campus attack by an intruder at Stagg High School.
Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman joined with San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar, Senator Dave Min of Irvine, Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua of Stockton, and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris of Laguna Beach to introduce the enhancements bill – adding anywhere from 2 to 10 years onto the sentence of a variety of crimes that occur at a school or a place of worship.
According to the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 99 would add a 2-4-year enhancement for the commission or attempted commission of a number of felonies at a house of worship or school including manslaughter, mayhem, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, and rape.
The bill would also include a 10-year enhancement for the commission or attempted commission of murder at a school or house of worship.
“I commend Senator Talamantes Eggman for her swift response to my Office’s call to action,”
said San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar. “Heinous acts of violence on
school campuses and places of worship deserve additional consequences.
“SB 699 is one way California can lead the nation in reform, protecting those seeking an education and those who wish to participate in religious gatherings.”
The killing of Reynaga sent shockwaves through the county not long before mass shootings broke out across the country in places like New York and Texas before a recent shooting in Orange County grabbed headlines.
The inclusion of Petrie-Norris and Min effectively unifies Northern and Southern California in sending a message that such activities will not be tolerated.
“Schools and houses of worship are foundational building blocks of our communities and should be safe spaces for all those who use their services,” said Eggman – who introduced the bill. “No one should ever be deterred from receiving an education or engaging in spiritual reflection for fear their faith or study could be disrupted by violence. I am extremely grateful for the support of District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar in helping craft this important legislation.”
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
