County approves resolution supporting Prop. 36

In support of public safety in Placer County, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a resolution supporting Proposition 36. Prop. 36 will be on the statewide Nov. 5 ballot and aims to allow for felony charges and increased sentences for certain drug and theft crimes. Joel Joyce, legislative and governmental affairs coordinator for Placer County, advised the proposition amends Prop. 47, which was passed in 2014 and brought felony charges down to misdemeanors for crimes like shoplifting, theft and forgery under $950. Joyce shared main components of the proposition include increasing penalties for certain drug crimes, adding fentanyl to the list that will warrant a felony with a loaded firearm, increasing sentences based on quantity of certain drugs sold illegally and increasing penalties for theft crimes. During an overview provided at the Sept. 10 meeting, Joyce advised Prop. 36 also includes notifying convicted individuals of future penalties and the possibility of a murder conviction if they sell to an individual who passes away from those drugs, and certain drug offenses would be classified as treatment-mandated felonies, which would allow individuals convicted of two or more drug crimes to not contest the charges of the third conviction, receive a substance abuse and/or mental health evaluation and receive treatment. The board directed staff to return with a resolution in support of Prop. 36. Following a brief recap on Prop. 36, the board approved the resolution in a unanimous vote.