An unnecessary veto by Governor Schwarzenegger of a bill by Assemblyman Paul Cook led to some conversation on Cook's legislative record. For the record, it's substantial, particularly with public safety. As a show of respect and gratitude, the Contractors' State License Board wrote an editorial addressing the minor controversy over the veto. Take a look:

http://is.gd/gxHSX

Assemblyman Paul Cook has authored a great number of bills dealing with public safety and crime. He's tackled issues with sex offenders, missing children, and public corruption. He has gained the Governor's signature on many of the most significant measures. The following is a list of his more notable public safety and crime bills over the past two legislative sessions:

AB 33 - Amber Dubois Legislation (1 of 3): Peace Officers Missing Child Training Act

(Three bills were introduced in response to the tragic kidnapping, assault, and murder of 14-year-old Amber Dubois by known sex offender John Gardner.)

AB 33 will require law enforcement agencies to adopt a checklist document for missing person investigations, establish guidelines on missing persons investigations, and utilize a missing person reporting form (by January 1, 2012). This bill will also disseminate the California Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (POST)'s "Guidelines For Handling Missing Persons Investigations" via a Department of Justice (DOJ) bulletin and through the California Law Enforcement Website. It also directs POST to update their Guidelines For Handling Missing Persons Investigations. Finally, AB 33 directs the DOJ, through the Violent Crimes Information Center (VCIC) to create a list of possible suspects and provide that list to law enforcement, in the event of a suspected stranger abduction of a child. AB 33 will be signed into law.

AB 34 - Amber Dubois Legislation (2 of 3): National Crime Information Center Notification

This bill will require law enforcement agencies to file missing persons reports with National Crime Information Center and the California Violent Crime Information Center within two hours of receipt of the report. It will also allow the state Attorney General to provide these important details to qualified organizations that will provide valuable help in finding missing persons. AB 34 will be signed into law.

AB 1022 - Amber Dubois Legislation (3 of 3): Missing Persons Coordination Act:

This bill creates the position of a Missing Persons Coordinator within the DOJ to assist law enforcement agencies with the timely search and recovery of at-risk abducted children utilizing existing resources and expertise in the DOJ. AB 1022 will be signed into law.

AB 307 - Sex Offenders Workplace Restrictions

This significant piece of legislation prohibits sex offenders from working in any capacity that provides goods or services to children in an unaccompanied setting. At introduction, this bill began as prohibiting sex offenders from operating ice cream trucks. However, by the time it reached the Governor's desk, Cook succeeded in greatly expanding the scope of the bill. AB 307 was signed into law.

AB 1829 - Stolen Valor Act: Military Decorations Fraud

This bill would increase the penalty for making a fraudulent claim of a military decoration. Under state law, such an offense is considered a mere infraction. If enacted, this legislation will increase this crime to a misdemeanor.

AB 1906 - Additional Grand Juries in San Bernardino County

This bill would allow San Bernardino County to appoint an additional civil grand jury each year. With certain exceptions, most counties may only appoint one grand jury per year.  This bill will help fight government corruption and waste by allowing for an additional grand jury. AB 1906 was signed into law.

More Cook Bills on Public Safety and Crime:

AB 458 - Peace Officers Safety Window Tint
AB 587 - Gang Graffiti
AB 589 - Sex Offenders Special Drivers License
AB 1068 - Sex Offender Restrictions Around Schools

For the past several months, I've worked with Maurice "Moe" Dubois and Rebecca Smith of the "More Kids" organization and Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) on what are perhaps the most important of any of my bills during my time in Sacramento. Moe and Rebecca formed the More Kids organization following the tragic abduction, assault, and murder of Moe’s 14-year-old daughter, Amber Dubois, at the hands of a known sex offender. This same sex offender was also responsible for the murder of 17-year-old Chelsea King.

Through legislation – AB 33, AB 34, and AB 1022 – we’ve worked in a bipartisan fashion to reform and institute missing child guidelines throughout the state in every law enforcement agency, to provide coordination at the state level for investigation efforts, and to ensure that information on a missing child is submitted and distributed to the correct authorities in the shortest time possible. These are much needed and overdue changes that California needs, in order to keep our children safe and give ourselves the best chance to find missing children before they are harmed.

These bills should be taken up today in the State Senate. We expect that the bills will pass. They must then travel to the Assembly for a final vote before heading to the Governor's desk.

It's difficult to find joy in the potential for these bills to pass, given the origins of the legislation. That said, I'm extremely proud of our efforts, and believe Moe and Rebecca have done an immeasurable service to the children and families in this state. Out of tragedy, they have initiated changes in law that will help authorities and families see the safe return of our children.

I ask that you follow these bills and, at the appropriate time, ask the Governor to sign these important measures into law.