Tribal judges.

Assembly Member Soria's legislation extends legal protections for tribal judges of federally recognized California Indian tribes by amending state codes governing confidentiality and personal safety measures for public officials. The bill adds tribal judges to existing provisions that shield certain officials' personal information and enhance penalties for retaliatory actions against them.

The legislation modifies three key areas of California law. It allows tribal judges to request confidentiality of their residential addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses in voter registration records. The bill also adds tribal judges to the list of officials protected under criminal statutes addressing assaults intended to prevent or retaliate for official duties. Additionally, it permits tribal judges to request that their home addresses in Department of Motor Vehicle records remain confidential.

According to the bill's findings, these changes respond to increasing threats and attacks on public officials related to their duties, with tribal judges facing similar safety risks as other judicial officers. The provisions mirror existing protections available to judges of state and federal courts, including confidentiality periods of up to two years for voter records and permanent confidentiality options for DMV records upon retirement. The bill maintains current penalties, including felony charges for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information that results in bodily injury.