MOBB United Action in SUPPORT of California SB-10

 

Background: M.O.B.B. United for Social Change has been supporting Senate Bill (SB)-10 which has been moving through the California Legislature. SB-10 is a comprehensive legislative bills which would – among other things – drastically decrease California’s cash bail system.

Currently, a person arrested for a criminal charge has a monetary bail amount set; most counties have a “Bail Schedule” listing the suggested bail for each penal code. Judges still have great discretion on increasing or lowering this amount. This practice has led to people of color and poor people being incarcerated during pre-trial simply because they cannot pay bail, or people of color and poor people becoming trapped in increased debt after paying a bail bondsman a nonrefundable lower amount, usually five to ten percent of the bail.

As of July 19th 2017, SB-10 has passed the entire Senate and the Assembly Public Safety Committee. After the Appropriations Committee it will head to the Assembly floor. This concerns us because the Assembly is where its sister bill AB-42 died, six votes short of approval. Eight Assembly members did not vote and thirty seven voted no.

 

To ensure the bill becomes law, we need moms to mobilize now.

1. Attached is the updated contact template for you (and others) to use. We ask that everyone email their lists and urge supporters to call their Assemblymembers.
2. Use Script provided, we would like to get a gauge on their stance for SB10 and the reason.

 

Sample Script:

(Ask to speak with the staff member most familiar with the Assembly member's position on SB-10)

• Hi My name is _______ and I am calling from Moms of Black Boys United an organization consisting of over 170,000 concerned moms. We are in strong support of SB-10 and cash bail reform. We believe a person should not remain in jail simply because they cannot afford bail. SB-10 promotes evidence based public safety by utilizing risk assessments.

(If Assemblymember did not vote during AB-42)

• I noticed there was no vote recorded for SB-10's sister bill AB-42. Can we count on _______ to vote yes for SB-10?

(If Assemblymember voted no on AB-42)

• Assemblymember _____________ voted no on AB-42. We are encouraging __________ to change their vote and use science and evidence not lobbying money and support SB-10. Can we count on a “yes” vote?

 

List of contacts, we need to turn six of these into a YES vote!!!