California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the signing of Assembly Bill (AB) 2695 by Governor Gavin Newsom. The new law mandates that law enforcement agencies collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report this information to the California Department of Justice. This initiative aims to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis and improve public safety in Indian Country and nearby communities. AB 2695 was authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement following the Governor's signing of Assembly Bill (AB) 2319. The bill aims to reduce the maternal mortality rate among Black women and other pregnant persons of color by ensuring the successful implementation of Senate Bill 464 (SB 464), also known as the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act of 2019. AB 2319 is co-sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson, Dr. Akilah Weber, and the California Legislative Black Caucus.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released a statement following Governor Gavin Newsom's signing of Assembly Bill (AB) 2432 into law. The new legislation allows state courts to impose higher monetary penalties on corporations convicted of criminal offenses, with the resulting funds directed to crime victim service organizations in California. These organizations provide various forms of assistance, including medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages, courtroom advocacy, and temporary housing.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced the release of an updated Guide for Charities. This guide aims to provide best practices for charitable organizations, fundraising professionals, and charitable fundraising platforms operating in California. The Attorney General is responsible for supervising charities and professional fundraisers who solicit on their behalf. Under Government Code section 12580 et seq., the Attorney General can investigate and take legal action against charities and fundraisers that misuse charitable assets or engage in fraudulent practices.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $7.7 million settlement with U.S. Healthworks (USHW), a chain of occupational and urgent care clinics, resolving allegations of corporate fraud. The allegations claimed that USHW withheld millions from the State of California in unclaimed property, violating the Unclaimed Property Law (UPL) and the California False Claims Act (CFCA). The settlement includes USHW handing over $1.5 million in unclaimed property to the State Controller’s Office.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement following the signing of Senate Bill 1061 (SB 1061) into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Senator Monique Limón and cosponsored by various advocacy organizations, including the California Nurses Association and Health Access California, SB 1061 aims to protect consumers from having their credit damaged by medical debt.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that Assembly Bill 3042 (AB 3042) has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D – Elk Grove), extends the sunset date on Proposition 69, also known as the “DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act.” This extension will allow the Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue providing essential forensic DNA services with funding from criminal fines.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a report on the officer-involved shooting of Guillermo Huerta in Bakersfield, California, which occurred on March 18, 2023. The incident involved officers from the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD). This report is part of the California Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report offers a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ's findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal charges were not appropriate in this case.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, alleging the company engaged in a long-term campaign of deception regarding the recyclability of plastic products. Filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, the complaint claims that ExxonMobil misled Californians for decades through public statements and marketing that suggested recycling could manage the increasing plastic waste produced by the company.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today following the signing of Senate Bill 976 (SB 976) into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), SB 976, also known as the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act, aims to restrict social media companies and other website operators from using addictive algorithmic feeds, notifications, and other design features that encourage prolonged use by children and teens. The new law mandates parental consent for these features, allowing families to establish healthy...
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 14 attorneys general, has submitted a multi-state letter to congressional leaders advocating for the passage of the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm Act (CATCH Act). The letter also encourages Congress to take additional measures to curb the flow of illegally trafficked firearms from the United States into the Caribbean. This influx of illegal arms has contributed to rising gun violence in the Caribbean, particularly in Haiti, where deteriorating security conditions and increased gang violence complicate...
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), released a report on Luis Herrera’s death from an officer-involved shooting in Los Angeles, California, on September 17, 2022. The incident involved officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The report is part of the California Department of Justice's (DOJ) ongoing efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report provides a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ's findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that...
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today following Governor Gavin Newsom's signing of Senate Bill (SB) 1037 into law. The legislation, authored by Senator Scott Wiener and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta, enhances the Attorney General’s authority to seek civil penalties against local governments that violate state housing laws.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today following Governor Gavin Newsom's signing of Assembly Bill (AB) 1893 into law. The legislation, authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta, aims to facilitate housing production in cities and counties that fail to adopt a compliant housing element on time.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement following the conclusion of the preliminary injunction hearing in the state’s lawsuit challenging Kroger’s proposed $24.6 billion purchase of Albertsons.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the grand jury indictment of Southern California healthcare provider Gerardo Santillan, along with seven other individuals, for defrauding the state Medi-Cal program of nearly $60 million through their operation of three home health agencies between 2016 and 2022.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced today the securing of a preliminary injunction against MV Realty, a Florida-based company accused of engaging in predatory practices. The injunction aims to protect nearly 1,500 homeowners who were allegedly misled into signing "Homeowner Benefit Agreements" that locked them into using MV Realty to sell their homes for 40 years or face a penalty of 3% of the home's value. Additionally, MV Realty placed illegal liens on these homes, charging homeowners the penalty to remove the lien.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced today the sentencing of the final four individuals out of a total of twelve defendants involved in a large-scale mortgage fraud scheme. The scheme, which included identity theft and money laundering, resulted in an estimated loss of $15 million over several years. Charges from the April 2021 indictment included conspiracy, mortgage fraud, grand theft, identity theft, forgery, filing false or forged documents, and money laundering.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued revised legal guidance to water providers, reflecting recent changes in the Water Shutoff Protection Act. These revisions aim to support more tenants and homeowners who are behind on their water payments. The updates stem from Senate Bill 3 (SB 3, Dodd), adopted by the Legislature in 2023, which expanded the protections of the 2022 Water Shutoff Protection Act to include smaller water systems. Previously, the Act applied only to systems with over 200 residential service connections.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in an amicus brief supporting a Mississippi voting rights law, which is currently being challenged by the Republican National Committee in the case Republican National Committee v. Wetzel. The brief, filed before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, defends Mississippi's law that allows absentee ballots to be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received within five days thereafter. The coalition argues that this law falls within states' constitutional authority to regulate elections and...
