Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 2273 — known as the Scrivner Act — into law, following public outcry over the state’s handling of a case against former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner.
The bill, authored by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains, focuses on cases involving alleged child sex abuse. It requires prosecutors to explain why they did or did not seek charges that could make a defendant eligible for mental health diversion.
In April 2024, court filings and testimony from Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood and Scrivner’s son, Robert, alleged that Scrivner was under the influence of drugs and committed a sexual offense against one of his children…