Crimes: threats.

Assembly Member Patel's legislation expands California's criminal threat laws to specifically address threats targeting daycares, schools, universities, workplaces, houses of worship, and medical facilities. The measure establishes penalties for threats made through any medium, including social media posts and online images, that convey an immediate prospect of death or serious injury.

Under the proposed law, adults who make credible threats against these locations face either misdemeanor charges carrying up to one year in county jail or felony charges with state prison terms of 16 months to three years. For offenders under 18, the bill mandates referral to support services when eligible, with misdemeanor charges applying only if service programs are unavailable. The legislation requires threats to meet specific criteria - they must be unequivocal, immediate, and cause reasonable, sustained fear among those at the targeted location, regardless of whether the person intends to carry out the threat.

The measure includes provisions preventing duplicate prosecutions for the same threat under both existing and new statutes. While local agencies must implement these changes without immediate state reimbursement for costs related to the new criminal provisions, the bill establishes a process for localities to seek compensation for other state-mandated expenses through the Commission on State Mandates.