Existing law provides that all relevant evidence is admissible in an action before the court, including evidence relevant to the credibility of a witness or hearsay declaring, subject to specified exceptions. Existing law also provides that, in civil actions for personal injury or wrongful death, evidence of a person's immigration status is not admissible and discovery of a person's immigration status is not permitted. In civil actions other than those specified above, this bill would prohibit the disclosure of a person's immigration status in open court by a party unless that party requests an in camera hearing and the presiding judge determines that the evidence is admissible. This bill would apply this prohibition to criminal actions. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on January 1, 2022. The California Constitution provides for the Right to Truth-in-Evidence, which requires a 23 vote of the Legislature to exclude any relevant evidence from any criminal proceeding, as specified. Because this bill may exclude from a criminal action information about a person's immigration status that would otherwise be admissible, it requires a 23 vote of the Legislature. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Sponsored bills
This measure would designate Monday, May 7, 2018, as California Peace Officers' Memorial Day, urge all Californians to use that day to honor California peace officers, and recognize specified California peace officers who were killed in defense of their communities.
This measure would recognize 2018 as the milestone 50th Anniversary of the Napa County Agricultural Preserve, and further recognize the critical part the hundreds of growers, vintners, local leaders, and members of the Napa community play to preserve the beauty and splendor of the valley and its agricultural industries, for this and future generations.
This measure would proclaim the month of April 2018 as Black April Memorial Month.
This measure would proclaim the month of April 2018 as California Wines: Down to Earth Month, to celebrate the sustainable leadership of California wineries and winegrape growers throughout the month of April.
This measure would proclaim April 11, 2018, as Special Olympics Day.