Sutter County Sheriff Jim Denney on Monday hailed a ballot initiative that he called the most comprehensive public safety measure since California passed its Three Strikes law.

The initiative, called the Safe Neighborhoods Act, was launched at a Sacramento news conference called by its Republican sponsors, Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster; and his wife, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

The initiative needs 500,000 valid signatures to appear on the November 2008 ballot. Supporters will shoot for at least 600,000 names, said Denney.

If passed, anti-crime programs now used as bargaining chips by Republicans and Democrats in annual budget negotiations, including a $500,000 annual stipend for Sutter County and 36 other rural counties, would become permanent spending programs, said Denney.

Money for anti-methamphetamine efforts, county jails and juvenile justice crime prevention also would become permanent under the measure, which is backed by the California State Sheriff’s Association, police and district attorneys, said Denney.

The measure’s price tag, which would approach $1 billion, is still small compared to the state’s $100 billion-plus annual budget, the sheriff said.

“It takes $600 million in existing programs and continues them on a permanent basis, adding $340 million in enhancements,” he said.

Counties hesitate to hire staff for programs with temporary funding. Those jobs would become permanent, Denney said.

The initiative includes stiffer sentences that could exacerbate county jail overcrowding. But when jail population caps are reached, county boards could authorize temporary jails – something they cannot now do, said Denney.

The Sutter County Jail nearly reached its 352-bed capacity in March, but the population is back down to about 250, he said.

Penalties would be increased for “multiple acts of graffiti,” while a second or subsequent conviction for stealing a car for the purpose of “joy riding” would become a felony, according to a California State Sheriffs Association summary of the initiative.

An accomplice who uses a gun while committing certain felonies would be subject to the same 10-year-to-life prison sentence. The penalty for selling methamphetamine would be increased to equal the current penalty for selling cocaine.

A registered car owner who commits a crime with a gun would forfeit the car.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710. You may e-mail him at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.