Existing law provides for service of process in civil actions. Existing law authorizes a summons to be served by personal delivery of a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the person to be served.
Existing law also establishes the state prison and various local correctional facilities, including county jails. Existing law governs the administration of county jails and those provisions authorize a person who may lawfully serve process to serve process upon a person who is incarcerated within any institution in this state. Existing law requires a sheriff or jailer upon whom a paper in a judicial proceeding, that is directed to a prisoner in the custody of the sheriff or jailer, is served, to deliver the paper to the prisoner, with a note thereon of the
time of its service. Existing law makes the sheriff or jailer liable to the prisoner for all damages occasioned for neglecting to carry out that act.
This bill would enact similar provisions that would be applicable to service directed to a person who is incarcerated in the state prison. The bill would also provide that service pursuant to the provisions that are applicable to inmates of the state prison and persons incarcerated in other institutions constitutes service for purposes of civil actions, as specified.
(1)Existing law, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, enacted as an initiative statute by Proposition 47, as approved by the electors at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, makes the theft of money, labor, or property petty theft punishable as a misdemeanor, whenever the value of the property taken does not exceed $950. Proposition 47 requires shoplifting, defined as entering a commercial establishment with the intent to commit larceny if the value of the property taken does not exceed $950, to be punished as a misdemeanor.
This bill would allow a person who commits shoplifting after having 2 or more convictions for specified crimes to be punished with either a misdemeanor or a felony.
(2)Existing law, as amended by Proposition 47, allows
petty theft to be punished as a misdemeanor or a felony if the person has been previously convicted of specified offenses, including petty theft, grand theft, burglary, or carjacking, but only if the person is either required to register as a sex offender or has been convicted of certain serious or violent offenses.
This bill would, if the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020 is not approved by voters at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, allow petty theft or shoplifting to be punished as a misdemeanor or a felony if the person has been convicted 3 or more times of certain crimes, as specified.
(3)Existing law, also added by Proposition 47, requires the Director of Finance to calculate the savings accrued to the state from the implementation of Proposition 47 and to transfer that amount from the General Fund to the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund, as provided.
This bill would require that this amount shall not be reduced because of the changes made by this bill, as specified.
(4)This bill would call a special election to be consolidated with the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. This bill would require the Secretary of State to submit the provisions of the bill that amend the initiative statute to the electors for their approval at the November 3, 2020, consolidated election.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an act calling an election.