Press Releases, Senate Testimonies and a Few Commentaries

The information in this section provides a wealth of information and outstanding research.

 

Kristie's Law in 2005
Senate Bill 718

Authored by California State Senator Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley 

Latest News Releases on Senate Bill 718

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Summary of Article

June 1, 2005 
Press Release

Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) will be featured on today's Capitol Television News Service (CTNS) feed
Kristie's Law, or SB 718, was voted down in the Senate Public Safety Committee in April. The Senator plans to reintroduce the measure again next year.

April 26, 2005 
Press Release

Official Statement from Senator Sam Aanestad
on Defeat of Kristie's Law in 2005 

"I'm disappointed by the lack of support my bill received. My bill would have actually saved lives and I guess that idea goes too far for this committee," said Senator Aanestad. "Obviously, I would have liked to see our bill move forward ...

Senate Public 
Safety Hearing
April 26, 2005 

Candy Priano's
Testimony

California Senate Public Safety Hearing, April 26, 2005 The hearing for Kristie's Law took place in front of the California Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 26th. After the introduction of the bill by Sen. Aanestad, Mark Priano spoke for two minutes and as soon as Candy Priano began to speak, Senator Elaine Alquist, chair of the Public Safety Committee told Candy that there was no time for her testimony because the committee had to hear 40 plus bills that day.

Senate Informational Hearing March 9, 2005

 

Senate Informational Hearing March 9, 2005 An excerpt from Candy Priano's testimony: "Without warning my role as a mother changed when my innocent daughter, a passenger in our family van, was killed as the result of an unnecessary police pursuit. My situation alarms most people since the probability of someone like Kristie being killed as the result of a police chase is rare. We are a slightly upper-middle class family, Kristie attended private school and, most important, we live in the 'right' neighborhood. Many innocent victims of pursuit are poor. But I do not doubt for one moment that the grief of these mothers is any less painful than mine."

Press Conference
March 7, 2005

Candy Priano's press statement

News Conference on "Kristie's Law." An excerpt from Candy's statement: And for anyone in the audience who has had to bury a child, my heart goes out to you. And perhaps you understand why, when I learned the facts of this chase, and I found out that Kristie 's death could have been prevented that she did not need to die to keep someone else safe, why I had to do something to prevent this tragedy from happening to others. To prevent this tragedy from happening again so no other mother has to bury her precious child and only to find out later that her child's death was so unnecessary.

March 2nd 
Press Release

SACRAMENTO: Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) and Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) will hold a joint news conference this Monday, March 7th to reveal plans for legislation that would save innocent lives that are lost during high-speed chases involving law enforcement agencies in California. The news conference on "Kristie's Law" will take place MONDAY, March 7th. It will be held in Room 1190 of the State Capitol at 11:00 AM.

   
 

Kristie's Law in 2004
Senate Bill 1403, Formerly Senate Bill 1866

Authored by California State Senator Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley

Senate Judiciary Hearing, April 27, 2004

Full coverage of this hearing.

Senator Sam Aanestad noted during this hearing that California's 4th Appellate Court said California's outdated and dangerous pursuit laws have left "public safety twisting in the wind" and have given California officers a "get out of liability free card."

In 2003, 51 people were reported as being killed in California pursuits. We know this figure is low, but out of the reported figure, 18 were innocent victims.

Senate Judiciary Hearing, April 27, 2004

Candy Priano's Testimony

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Kristie's Law, Senate Bill 1403. An excerpt from Candy Priano's testimony: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger repeated one word during his campaign. That word is "accountability." I have read numerous reports on the topic of police pursuit since my innocent daughter Kristie was killed in a Chico pursuit where officers disregarded guidelines in their own pursuit policy. 

Senate Public Safety Hearing, April 21, 2004

Kristie's Bill passes senate public safety committee on April 21, 2004. Click on this link.

Aanestad: 'Kristie's Bill' will pass Senate, published April 20, 2004. Click on this link.

Newspaper Coverage of the Senate Public Safety Hearing ... and 
commentary by Jim Phillips, founder of PursuitWatch.org, click here.

Commentary on the Senate Public Safety Committee hearing for Kristie's Law (then SB 1866) took place in front of the California Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 13th. After the introduction of the bill by Sen. Sam Aanestad and testimony by Mark and Candy Priano and myself (Jim Phillips) the opponents of the bill were given the opportunity to express themselves. A host of Law Enforcement representatives stepped to the witness table. After a self-serving statement from the first opponent of the bill about how he was moved to tears by the Priano's story, he launched into litany of often discredited clichès about why the police need wide discretion in pursuit policy.

Senate Public Safety Hearing, April 13, 2004

Candy Priano's Testimony

The Senate Public Safety Committee hearing for Kristie's Law (then SB 1866). An excerpt from Candy Priano's testimony: Chief Jim Murray of Peachtree City, Georgia also wrote to us. "It is a tragic shame Kristie will not have a chance to experience all the wonderful things in life that were taken away from her with this event. I have been an outspoken critic about needless police chases for more than a year and have received threats and praise because of my stand, but I will continue to fight for the rights of victims all over the USA. So count on me to be there and call on me at any time to help you."

Senate Public Safety Hearing, April 13, 2004

Jim Phillip's Testimony

The Senate Public Safety Committee hearing for Kristie's Law (then SB 1866). An excerpt from Jim Phillips' testimony: At a news conference in October 2003, called to announce the adoption of a new more restrictive pursuit policy, Sheriff Beary said, "It is too dangerous to continue to do things the way we always have. It is time to change the 'culture' of police departments concerning pursuits. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is tightly controlling pursuits because it is the right thing to do, it is the responsible thing to do, and it is the safe thing to do."