SB 1278 – Elderly Parole Reform

Summary: Senate Bill 1278 excludes criminals convicted of rape, sodomy, lewd and lascivious acts, and sex offenses from being eligible for elderly parole.

Click here to read the bill language.

Senator Niello urges the Board of Parole Hearings to reverse its decision granting parole to serial child sexual predator Gregory Vogelsang at a rally on March 18, 2026.

Article: Lawmakers ramp up efforts to reform California’s Elderly Parole Program (San Bernadino Sun, 4/19/2026)

Op-ed: Roger's Review - Block Elderly Parole Release of Predators (Page 7, The Galt Herald, 3/27/2026)

Article: Parole delayed for sex offender tied to Citrus Heights crimes (Citrus Heights Sentinel, 3/19/2026)

Article: Sacramento sheriff, DA protest parole of man convicted of child sex crimes (The Fresno Bee, 3/12/2026)

Video: New Charges Filed Against Inmate Set for Elderly Parole Release (The Center Square, 3/9/2026)

Article: Convicted child molester pleads not guilty to new charges (The Center Square, 3/9/2026)

Video: 'I am hoping sanity will prevail,' California lawmakers call for changes to elderly parole program (ABC10, 3/5/2026)

Article: Convicted child rapist, David Allen Funston, back in court after new charges filed (FOX 40, 3/2/2026)

Article: A child molester’s release from prison set off a political firestorm. Now he’s back in jail (San Francisco Chronicle, 2/27/2026)

Article: 'Ashamed of my behavior': How 'monster' child molester got parole, sparking demands for action (Los Angeles Times, 2/25/2026)

Article: ‘He victimized children in my district’ – Lawmakers react to serial child molester getting parole (ABC10, 2/25/2026)

Article: Newsom wants parole board to ‘re-review’ release of child molester (FOX 40, 2/24/2026)