The Assembly Public Safety Committee Records span from 1959 to 2010, consisting of 192 cubic feet of records (including audiovisual materials) reflecting the activity of the committee in overseeing legislation and other matters affecting California's criminal justice, correctional needs, and public safety. The records were created by four different records creators: (1) Assembly Criminal Procedure Committee, 1959-1970; (2) Assembly Criminal Justice Committee, 1971-1982; (3) Assembly Criminal Law and Public Safety Committee, 1983-1984; (4) and Assembly Public Safety Committee, 1985-2010.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee is the most recent assembly committee to oversee the California Penal Code. The committee was originally a part of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which began with the first legislative session in 1849. The original Judiciary Committee dealt with a broad legislative scope regarding both penal and civil matters. The division between the Assembly Judiciary Committee and the committee that would become the Assembly Public Safety Committee occurred in 1959, as a method to alleviate the workload of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Committee members endured lengthy bi-weekly hearing sessions, ranging from 8 p.m. to midnight. During these strenuous meetings, committee members heard and deliberated thousands of bills a week. At the suggestion of Assemblyman John O’Connell, the Assembly Judiciary Committee was divided into two scopes: Civil Codes and Penal Codes. In accordance with House Resolution 24 of 1959, the Assembly Judiciary Committee was split into the Assembly Criminal Procedure Committee and the Assembly Judiciary-Civil Committee. As the scope of the new Judiciary Committee dealt with California’s Civil Code, the Assembly Criminal Procedure Committee oversaw bills relating to the Penal Code, sanctions and criminal offenses. Furthermore, the resolution established the committee both as a standing committee and an interim committee.

193 cubic feet, including audiocassettes, audio disc (CD), dictabelts, videocassettes, and videodiscs (DVD)

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.