SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) announced the unanimous, bipartisan passage of Assembly Bill 277 (AB 277) and Assembly Bill 767 (AB 767) through the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 277 requires employees providing behavioral health treatment, such as registered behavior technicians who work one-on-one with vulnerable children, to undergo criminal background checks prior to hiring. This measure addresses a critical gap in state law, ensuring employers have access to prospective employees’ criminal records to better safeguard children with developmental disabilities, who are three times more likely to experience abuse or neglect.
AB 767 strengthens protections to vulnerable communities by clarifying placement restrictions for sexually violent predators (SVPs) on conditional release, explicitly covering private and home-based schools and extending those safeguards to daycare facilities. By defining private schools and prohibiting SVP placements within one-quarter mile of daycares, the bill provides consistent guidance to courts and law enforcement, closing loopholes that have allowed dangerous inconsistencies and prioritizing the safety of young children in educational and childcare settings.
“As a former law enforcement officer and crimes against children detective, I’ve seen firsthand the profound trauma inflicted on our most vulnerable kids. These bills are about bolstering public safety by preventing abuse before it happens,” said Assemblymember Alanis. “I sincerely thank my Assembly colleagues and Appropriations Committee Chair for their shared commitment to protecting California’s children and communities from those who seek to do harm.”
The measures underscore the state’s responsibility to evolve its laws in response to the ongoing risks involving children, reducing the risk of exploitation for nonverbal or disabled children and giving parents peace of mind that their communities are protected from harm.
Both bills passed with a unanimous bipartisan vote and now advance to the Assembly floor for consideration by the full house.
Assemblymember Juan Alanis represents the 22nd Assembly District, which includes the communities of Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Denair, Patterson, Gustine, Newman, Hilmar, Ballico, Snelling, Keyes, Grayson, Crows Landing, Diablo Grande, Stevinson, & Empire.
