California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 421 — Vehicles: driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Last action — Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law prohibits a person who is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or the combined influence of alcohol or drugs from driving a vehicle. A violation of this prohibition, generally, is punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes a court to offer misdemeanor diversion to criminal defendants which, contingent on successful completion of specified terms and conditions imposed by the court, results in the dismissal of charges prior to adjudication. This bill would place requirements on misdemeanor diversion for persons charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI) , as specified. The bill would limit diversion to persons who have no prior convictions for DUI, and who have not completed diversion for DUI within the past 10 years. The bill would require, as a condition of diversion, for the defendant to install an ignition interlock device, as specified, and to participate in education and counseling programs, as specified. This bill would require the department to include diverted arrests in its tracking of DUI arrest and conviction data. This bill would also require a violation for DUI that is dismissed pursuant to this diversion program to count as a prior conviction for purposes of subsequent convictions for driving under the influence, as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, requires a person, upon a criminal conviction for DUI with a prior conviction for DUI or for driving under the influence and causing injury, to install and maintain an ignition interlock device (IID) for a specified period of time. Existing law also authorizes a court, upon the first criminal conviction of a person for driving under the influence, to order the person to install and maintain an IID for a specified period of time, or, if the court does not order the installation of such a device, authorizes the person to apply for a restricted license. This bill would instead require a person, upon the person's first criminal conviction for DUI, to install and maintain an IID for a specified period of time. The bill would delete those provisions authorizing a restricted license in lieu of an IID for first offenders. This bill would give credit towards the court-ordered term of IID installation for any period of time after the arrest that the person voluntarily installs and operates an IID. This bill would place specified recordkeeping requirements upon manufacturers of IIDs. The bill would also would extend the required term of IID installation by 60 days if, within the final 60 days of installation, a driver attempts to start the vehicle when a specified level of alcohol is detected.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. May 20 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

  3. Set for hearing May 20.

  4. May 10 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

  5. Set for hearing May 10.

  6. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 940.) (April 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  8. Set for hearing April 27.

  9. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  10. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  11. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  12. Joint Rule 55 suspended. (Ayes 32. Noes 4. Page 272.)

  13. (Ayes 32. Noes 4.)

  14. Art. IV. Sec. 8(a) of the Constitution dispensed with.

  15. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 18.

  16. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Bradford · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Bradford

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 1000
Republican 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Kamlager — Yea
Bates — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety transportation
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 421 do?
Existing law prohibits a person who is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or the combined influence of alcohol or drugs from driving a vehicle. A violation of this prohibition, generally, is punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes a court to offer misdemeanor diversion to criminal defendants which, contingent on successful completion of specified terms and conditions imposed by the court, results in the dismissal of charges prior to adjudication. This bill would place requirements on misdemeanor diversion for persons charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI) , as specified. The bill would limit diversion to persons who have no prior convictions for DUI, and who have not completed diversion for DUI within the past 10 years. The bill would require, as a condition of diversion, for the defendant to install an ignition interlock device, as specified, and to participate in education and counseling programs, as specified. This bill would require the department to include diverted arrests in its tracking of DUI arrest and conviction data. This bill would also require a violation for DUI that is dismissed pursuant to this diversion program to count as a prior conviction for purposes of subsequent convictions for driving under the influence, as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, requires a person, upon a criminal conviction for DUI with a prior conviction for DUI or for driving under the influence and causing injury, to install and maintain an ignition interlock device (IID) for a specified period of time. Existing law also authorizes a court, upon the first criminal conviction of a person for driving under the influence, to order the person to install and maintain an IID for a specified period of time, or, if the court does not order the installation of such a device, authorizes the person to apply for a restricted license. This bill would instead require a person, upon the person's first criminal conviction for DUI, to install and maintain an IID for a specified period of time. The bill would delete those provisions authorizing a restricted license in lieu of an IID for first offenders. This bill would give credit towards the court-ordered term of IID installation for any period of time after the arrest that the person voluntarily installs and operates an IID. This bill would place specified recordkeeping requirements upon manufacturers of IIDs. The bill would also would extend the required term of IID installation by 60 days if, within the final 60 days of installation, a driver attempts to start the vehicle when a specified level of alcohol is detected.
Who sponsors SB 421?
SB 421 is sponsored by Bradford.
What is the current status of SB 421?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 421?
Track SB 421 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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