SB 661

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that seeks to balance the constitutional right to protest with desire to let those attending the funeral services mourn in peace. The California governor vetoed a similar bill last year, citing a potential conflict with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing protest outside military funerals. The bill, SB661 by Democratic Assemblyman Ted Lieu of Torrance, prohibits protests within 300 feet of funerals.

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By Melissa Jeltsen

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed legislation Monday restricting protests at funerals, a year after vetoing a similar bill due to concerns over free speech.

The law is designed to target the Westboro Baptist Church, a group that has provoked national outrage by picketing soldiers' funerals with deeply offensive signs.

The measure is among 26 bills the governor signed Monday, along with tighter accounting procedures in state finances.

By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday to bar protests near funerals, prevent future accounting scandals and provide some legal amnesty to people seeking medical help for drug overdoses.

The measure protecting funerals says protesters on public property must be at least 300 feet from the burial site. Violators could be fined $1,000 or jailed for six months.

Funeral-protection measure sponsored by Sen. Ted Lieu 
               SACRAMENTO – Grieving family members and friends will have more privacy and greater protections from disruptive protests during funerals thanks to a Sen. Ted W. Lieu measure signed into law today by Gov. Jerry Brown.