In first act as Assemblymember, Nguyen reintroduces failed legislation pushed by former Assemblymember Cooper
In her first action representing California Assembly District 10, Stephanie Nguyen has introduced legislation previously introduced by her Assembly predecessor, Sacramento County Sheriff-elect Jim Cooper.
The legislation, Assembly Bill 32, seeks to reclassify certain hate crimes. According to Nguyen’s press release, the “Bill seeks to reclassify hate crimes to ensure perpetrators of the most violent hate crimes are not eligible for early release from prison.”
Nguyen, who previously served on the Elk Grove City Council, was sworn in on Monday and replaced Cooper, who served in Assembly District 9. Nguyen represents District 10, which like the previous Assembly District 9, includes all of Elk Grove.
Cooper’s legislation, Assembly Bill 266, was introduced in 2021. However, it was rejected in the Assembly Public Safety Committee last January by a 5 – 2 vote.
“We’ve seen a massive spike in hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), Jewish and LGBTQ communities,” Nguyen said. “Acts of violence inspired by racism and hate are among the most heinous crimes a person can commit, we cannot allow individuals who seek to cause harm and divide our communities early release from prison.”
While Cooper supports the bill, which is likely to be supported by police and district attorneys’, it has met resistance. Aside from no support in the Assembly, groups including the American Civil Liberties Association and the California Public Defenders Association have opposed.
The ACLU and CPDA have yet to respond to an email inquiry seeking comment on the legislation. However, a review of both bills reveals nearly identical language.
“This bill is not about violent crime, it is about harsher punishment for non-violent crimes,” ACLU representative Kathy Sher said when the bill was heard in committee earlier this year. “Targeting non-violent hate crimes by re-categorizing them as violent will do nothing to stop violent hate crime.”
The bill has yet to be assigned to a committee, and according to Nguyen’s press release will be heard sometime next year.
