Sacramento, CA. – California Assembly Bill 168, a bipartisan law enforcement funding bill jointly authored by Assembly Members Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo), Cathleen Galgiani (D-Livingston), and Jim Nielson (R-Gerber) continues funding the Local Safety and Protection Account even after the additional vehicle license fee expires on June 30th. The continuous appropriation bill creates a one-time appropriation of just over $500 million from the state’s general fund to support the current local law enforcement activities that would otherwise be interrupted with the scheduled sunset of the state vehicle license fee.

“While the overall state budget continues to be debated, it is important that this bill be passed to provide interim funding until a permanent funding source is secured,” stated Jim Nielsen. “Regardless of what form the budget solutions take, without interim funding the local public safety funding account will become depleted on June 30th, placing a number of law enforcement programs in jeopardy.”

Individuals and organizations supporting the passage of AB 168 include Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully, Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten, the California Farm Bureau Federation, the California District Attorneys Association, the California Peace Officers Association, the County of Los Angeles, and the California Sheriffs Association.

The Local Safety and Protection Account provides funding for many different aspects of local law enforcement, including juvenile justice and probation activities, juvenile camps and ranches, and programs that combat drug use, sexual assaults, gang activity, and technology theft.

A third generation naval officer, Assembly Member Jeff Gorell was called back to active duty by the U.S. Navy on March 18th. Since then he has reported for refresher training at Fort Dix, and was deployed to Afghanistan at the end of April. He currently holds the rank of Lt. Commander with the Navy (Reserve) as an intelligence officer and has previously served a tour of duty in Afghanistan shortly after the events of 9/11.