Senator Bob Huff (R - Diamond Bar) announced that Senate Bill 938, sponsored by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, received unanimous bi-partisan support and passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee.

Existing law allows some public officials and law enforcement officers to keep their addresses confidential when police run a license plate check. The spouse and children of these individuals are rightly granted confidentiality, but when these family members are also convicted criminals, the confidentiality extended to the family members compromises officer safety.

SB 938 will require disclosure of a spouse's or child's home address if they have been convicted of a crime and are on probation or parole.

"Our peace officers continually put themselves in harm's way," said Senator Huff. "We must give deputies the tools they need to properly assess the situation they are facing when conducting traffic stops."

The list of who can obtain confidentiality plates is limited, but, the way existing law is worded, some criminals are not exempt and can thus abuse the system. SB 938 will disclose information that will help officers do their job more safely and effectively.

"Confidentiality was meant to protect public officials and their families, not to provide a shroud for criminals who are on supervised release," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.

"I thank Senator Huff for authoring this critical legislation which will help to insure the safety of peace officers and other public officials in this state and clarify the intent of this statute."

"Without this provision, DMV confidentiality actually becomes a danger for our police officers," commented Senator Huff. "I am pleased that the Senate Public Safety Committee has voted to support SB 938 to give officers the ability to know who they are dealing with."

SB 938 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.