California lawmakers in the State Senate Tuesday approved a bill to make it easier for people in the state to sue federal officers when their rights are violated. Senate Bill 747 passed on a 30-10 party line vote. It now heads to the Assembly where it still faces a few hurdles before it can head to the governor’s desk. Gov. Gavin Newsom has not taken a position on the bill as of Tuesday. The “No Kings Act” bill was filed last fall by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and has been amplified by the situation in Minneapolis, where federal officers have shot and killed two American citizens. Wiener and other supporters of the measure have said it’s nearly impossible to sue federal officers for civil rights violations after the United States Supreme Court over the years has narrowed the scope of actions that could be taken against federal agents under what was known as the Bivens case from 1971. Officers could be sued under California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act under the proposal. “California is not going to let these thugs get away with it,” Wiener said in his opening remarks on the Senate floor.Southern California Democrats pointed to various incidents in their district in which community members were blinded or pushed to the ground by federal agents. “This is a local issue,” said State Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Anaheim. “If we don’t act, who should? It’s our time.” “I have a respect for people in uniform,” said State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-Los Angeles. “What’s happening is every Joe Blow who failed to be a police officer, who failed to be in the military is armed now and is trigger happy.”Police groups have noted the legislation does not specifically name federal agents and could rope state and local employees and officers into more lawsuits by expanding their liability. Wiener noted state and local officers are already subject to the exact liability he’s trying to apply to federal officers through this bill and said it’s important all officers are held to the same standard. “This bill is going to make the risk and liability even harder for families in law enforcement,” said State Sen. Suzette Valladares, R-Santa Clarita. “Protecting civil rights and supporting law enforcement are not mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, this bill offers a false choice.” “I wish the opposition would spend less time spreading at times misleading information about what this bill does and more time addressing the fact that local law enforcement is being completely undermined by having these masked thugs rampaging in our communities and shooting people,” Wiener told reporters before the Senate began floor session Tuesday.”I would just hope as the bill moves forward, we make sure that we’re holding onto the trust at the local level and that we’re listening to them,” said State Sen. Henry Stern, D-Los Angeles. “We need allies right now.” Republicans also blamed sanctuary state and city laws for part of the “chaos.” State Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, noted the Obama and Clinton administrations were able to work with local and state law enforcement to deport far more immigrants than the Trump administration. “It would become all of us if we dialed down and started talking with each other and work and coordinate with each other because no one likes to see what happens in Minnesota,” Strickland said. “Both parties are at fault for this,” said State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield. “This is a problem for both parties.” The bill originally sought to go into effect immediately with the governor’s signature which requires a challenging two-thirds vote of approval from lawmakers. Wiener confirmed he removed it to give it the best chance of passing on Tuesday. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

California lawmakers in the State Senate Tuesday approved a bill to make it easier for people in the state to sue federal officers when their rights are violated.

Senate Bill 747 passed on a 30-10 party line vote. It now heads to the Assembly where it still faces a few hurdles before it can head to the governor’s desk. Gov. Gavin Newsom has not taken a position on the bill as of Tuesday.

The “No Kings Act” bill was filed last fall by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and has been amplified by the situation in Minneapolis, where federal officers have shot and killed two American citizens.

Wiener and other supporters of the measure have said it’s nearly impossible to sue federal officers for civil rights violations after the United States Supreme Court over the years has narrowed the scope of actions that could be taken against federal agents under what was known as the Bivens case from 1971. Officers could be sued under California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act under the proposal.

“California is not going to let these thugs get away with it,” Wiener said in his opening remarks on the Senate floor.

Southern California Democrats pointed to various incidents in their district in which community members were blinded or pushed to the ground by federal agents.

“This is a local issue,” said State Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Anaheim. “If we don’t act, who should? It’s our time.”

“I have a respect for people in uniform,” said State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-Los Angeles. “What’s happening is every Joe Blow who failed to be a police officer, who failed to be in the military is armed now and is trigger happy.”

Police groups have noted the legislation does not specifically name federal agents and could rope state and local employees and officers into more lawsuits by expanding their liability. Wiener noted state and local officers are already subject to the exact liability he’s trying to apply to federal officers through this bill and said it’s important all officers are held to the same standard.

“This bill is going to make the risk and liability even harder for families in law enforcement,” said State Sen. Suzette Valladares, R-Santa Clarita. “Protecting civil rights and supporting law enforcement are not mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, this bill offers a false choice.”

“I wish the opposition would spend less time spreading at times misleading information about what this bill does and more time addressing the fact that local law enforcement is being completely undermined by having these masked thugs rampaging in our communities and shooting people,” Wiener told reporters before the Senate began floor session Tuesday.

“I would just hope as the bill moves forward, we make sure that we’re holding onto the trust at the local level and that we’re listening to them,” said State Sen. Henry Stern, D-Los Angeles. “We need allies right now.”

Republicans also blamed sanctuary state and city laws for part of the “chaos.”

State Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, noted the Obama and Clinton administrations were able to work with local and state law enforcement to deport far more immigrants than the Trump administration.

“It would become all of us if we dialed down and started talking with each other and work and coordinate with each other because no one likes to see what happens in Minnesota,” Strickland said.

“Both parties are at fault for this,” said State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield. “This is a problem for both parties.”

The bill originally sought to go into effect immediately with the governor’s signature which requires a challenging two-thirds vote of approval from lawmakers.

Wiener confirmed he removed it to give it the best chance of passing on Tuesday.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel