Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Lena Gonzalez told reporters Wednesday the group would use “every tool” available to enforce regulations for all detention centers, even those that are federally owned — and that the state was ready to defend the legislation in court.

“The Trump administration is no stranger to our lawsuits in California, so we will continue to push on that front,” Gonzalez said. “Whatever comes our way, we’ll go around it.”

One way lawmakers are looking to exercise more authority over the centers is by expanding their ability to enter and inspect them — which is the aim of a handful of the bills.

• Gonzalez’s SB 423 would allow state and local agencies to disclose records of emergency service calls at private detention centers under public records requests. It comes as the state recorded a total of six detainee deaths between last September and March of this year.
• A detainee bill of rights in state Sen. Anna Caballero’s SB 942 would authorize the state attorney general to bring civil actions to protect those rights and seek civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation.
• State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez’s SB 995 would authorize the California Department of Public Health to inspect detention facilities to ensure operators are complying with public health and safety standards. 

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