Staff Chula Vista Today
SAN DIEGO — California has strengthened its criminal laws with the implementation of SB 19, a measure that allows prosecutors to pursue charges for threats directed at institutions such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship, even when no specific individual is named.
The legislation, introduced by Assemblymember Darshana Patel and Senator Susan Rubio, responds to a rise in threats targeting school campuses. Among the cases cited by state officials was Shoal Creek Elementary, where families and school staff reported days of uncertainty. Patel said the previous law offered no recourse when a threat did not target a named person, leaving authorities unable to intervene in incidents that caused widespread alarm.
Rubio, a former teacher, noted that lockdowns and emergency protocols have significant psychological impacts on students and educators. She said the reform provides tools for authorities to act before there is an imminent danger.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan emphasized that the legal update will allow prosecutors to hold accountable those who post violent threats online, a step she said could help prevent acts of mass violence. San Diego City Attorney Heather Ferbert added that her office had previously been limited to seeking gun-removal orders, without the ability to file criminal charges. With the new law, she said, agencies can intervene earlier to better protect vulnerable public spaces.
From the education sector, Poway Unified School Board President Ginger Couvrette said the threats have disrupted the daily lives of families and students, calling the legislative change necessary.
With SB 19 now in effect, prosecutors can file charges for credible threats directed at institutions — a shift local authorities describe as closing a legal loophole that had left entire communities vulnerable to intimidation and fear.