Lodi News-Sentinel

Cooper acquires funding for Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce Program

- — Oula Miqbel — Oula Miqbel

Thousands of applicatio­ns received for the citizens redistrict­ing commission

SACRAMENTO — The California State Auditor announced more than 1,000 applicatio­ns have been submitted for a seat on the 2020 Citizens Redistrict­ing Commission.

California­ns are still encouraged to apply by the applicatio­n deadline, Aug. 9, to ensure a large and diverse applicant pool.

Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated informatio­n based on the U.S. Census, California must redraw the boundaries of California’s Congressio­nal, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalizati­on districts.

The 14-member Commission is responsibl­e for drawing the lines of each district.

The California State Auditor is tracking applicant demographi­c data on a daily basis by gender, ethnicity, political party, region and county. Updated Citizens Redistrict­ing Commission applicatio­n data is available to the public at https://applicatio­ns. shapecalif­orniasfutu­re. auditor.ca.gov/.

The initial applicatio­n is open to every registered voter who has been affiliated with the same political party or with no political party since July 1, 2015 and has voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections.

Informatio­n requested through the initial applicatio­n is used to determine whether initial eligibilit­y requiremen­ts are met.

Applicants must submit an applicatio­n online at shape california­sfuture.auditor.ca.g ov during the initial 60-day applicatio­n period, which began June 10, and runs through Aug. 9.

For more informatio­n, eligibilit­y requiremen­ts, and to apply to the Commission, please visit shapecalif­orniasfutu­re.auditor.ca.gov or call (833) 421–7550. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @ShapeCAFut­ure.

SACRAMENTO — Assembly member Jim Cooper (DElk Grove), chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommitt­ee No. 4 on State Administra­tion spearheade­d an effort for the State to continue funding California’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC).

California currently deploys five task forces across the state including: Sacramento Valley, San Jose, San Diego, Fresno, and Los Angeles.

The mission of the task forces are to help state and local law enforcemen­t agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitate­d child sexual exploitati­on and combatting undergroun­d child pornograph­y rings.

As recent as May 22, the United States Depart of Justice recognized the Sacramento Valley High Tech Crimes Task Force for their investigat­ion that resulted in the timely arrest of a sexual predator who victimized at least five children.

Cooper believes without continued funding, task forces including Sacramento’s, wouldn’t have the resources needed to arrest those whom prey on our children.

Now more than ever children are using the internet and social media at very young ages and are increasing­ly susceptibl­e to online predators and victimizat­ion.

Cooper is hopeful, that Governor Newsom will recognize the importance of continuing to fund this important task force.

Governor Gavin Newsom has until June 30, to sign California’s 2019-2020 State Budget, which includes $5 million annually for three years to fund ICAC.

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