Description
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.
Background
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.
Extent
193 cubic feet, including audiocassettes, audio disc (CD), dictabelts, videocassettes, and videodiscs (DVD)
Restrictions
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.
Availability
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.