California Lawmakers Wrangle Financial Needs in Wake of Proposition 36’s Passage

The public defender, speaking to a California legislative committee on Tuesday, pointed to a problem with Proposition 36, which increased the penalties for certain theft and drug crimes, and mandated treatment for repeat drug offenders. But, Governor Gavin Newsom has provided no funding for the proposition in his budget.

"Transitional housing is lacking, and counties don’t have the workforce to support a heightened treatment system, said Robb Layne, executive director of the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives. He argued it’ll take years to build the workforce needed."