Board of Equalization Member Senator George Runner today announced that the State Coalition of Probation Organizations of California (SCOPO) has named him 2010 Legislator of the Year. This award acknowledges Senator Runner's extensive career as a champion for public safety in California.

"I'm deeply honored to receive this recognition," said Runner. "I'm thankful for the opportunities I've had to work side by side with the law enforcement community to make our communities safer."

Established in 1983, the State Coalition of Probation Organizations (SCOPO) represents and assists probation officers at the state level through legislative action, education and coalition building, while offering leadership and support to local probation organizations.

SCOPO President Paul Brennan said, "We are honored to present this award, as Legislator of the Year, to Senator George Runner for his dedication to public safety. His time in the Legislature was spent fighting to protect those who enforce the law, and for those the law is meant to protect.”

During his twelve year tenure in the Legislature, Runner fought to enhance public safety by promoting effective crime-fighting measures and strengthening the rights of crime victims.

Runner and his wife, former Assembly Member Sharon Runner, are the authors of Jessica's Law, which was passed by more than 70 percent of California voters in November 2006. It created some of the toughest and most comprehensive sex offender management and control laws in the nation.

He also authored the well-known California Amber Alert, which has resulted in more than 200 successful reunions of children with their parents, as well as California's Blue Alert, which uses Amber Alert technology when a peace officer has been killed, seriously wounded or assaulted with a deadly weapon and the suspect has fled the scene.

Senator Runner was recently elected as a member of the Board of Equalization. He represents more than 9 million Californians living in the Second District, which stretches from the Oregon border to San Bernardino. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.