The Senate Public Safety Committee Records consist of 82.5 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records. The Senate Public Safety Committee was created in 1997, replacing and assuming the responsibilities of the Senate Criminal Procedure Committee.

The Senate Public Safety Committee was created in 1997, replacing and assuming the responsibilities of the Senate Criminal Procedure Committee. During the 1997-1998 legislative session, Senate Resolution 9 (Lockyer) changed the name at the request of the committee chair. The committee originally consisted of eight members and hears bills relating to “the Evidence Code, pertaining to criminal procedure, the Penal Code, statutes of a penal nature not related closely to a subject included in another subdivision of this rule, and bills relating to the Youth and Adult Corrections Agency” (California Legislature at Sacramento, 1997, p. 104). The committee spent much of its time on drug enforcement issues, focusing on such areas as crystal methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine production and child endangerment, treatment and rehab versus punishment, marijuana, medical marijuana, and ecstasy (MDMA or methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Many of the drug enforcement related bills indicate tension over punishing first time, nonviolent drug offenders and providing rehabilitation. The committee also devoted significant time to issues related to mentally ill offenders, sex offenders and human trafficking.

82.5 cubic feet, 349 audiocassettes, 163 videocassettes (VHS), 100 audio discs (CD), 11 videodiscs (DVD)

For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult California State Archives staff. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that 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.