Bill Outlawing Paraphernalia for ‘Ice’ Is Sent to Governor

The Senate has sent Gov. George Deukmejian a bill (SB 2028) by Sen. John Doolittle (R-Rocklin) to outlaw the possession of drug paraphernalia for the use of “ice” or crystal methamphetamine.

A 29-1 vote moved the bill to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law. The measure was requested by Deukmejian’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning.

Many drug experts are predicting that “ice” will become the drug of choice in the 1990s, even eclipsing the use of cocaine, according to Doolittle.

Making its first appearance in Hawaii in 1985, one application of “ice” reportedly results in a high that lasts from 8 to 24 hours, compared to 20 minutes with crack cocaine.

“By outlawing the possession of ice paraphernalia, law enforcement officers will be given a vital tool in stopping casual drug abuse,” the Northern California senator said. GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (SB 2680) by Sen. Daniel Boatwright (D-Concord) to provide racial and cultural sensitivity training courses for law enforcement officers. The law was sparked by a Long Beach case in which a white police officer pushed a black off-duty police officer through a plate-glass window during a routine traffic stop while the latter was investigating alleged police brutality. ASSEMBLY Bill Introductions

Drought: ACR 180 by Assemblyman Dominic Cortese (D-San Jose) requests the state Department of Water Resources to prepare a report with recommendations to provide local agencies with more drought information and technical and financial assistance to develop efficient water management programs. SENATE Floor Action

Credit Cards: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 31-2 vote a bill (AB 2880) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos) to prohibit merchants from requiring credit card numbers on the back of checks for identification purposes.

Video Games: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 26-5 vote a bill (AB 3820) by Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-El Monte) to prohibit video games for use by youths under the age of 18 from containing paid advertisements for alcoholic beverages or tobacco products.

Child Pornography: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 36-0 vote a bill (SB 2911) by Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Rohnert Park) to make the possession of child pornography either a felony or a misdemeanor crime on a first offense.

Voter Registration: Passed and sent to the governor on a 22-4 vote a bill (AB 2689) by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) to require school districts as part of required civics classes to give high school students 18 years or older an opportunity to register to vote.

Telephone Calls: Passed and sent to the governor on a 32-2 vote a bill (AB 3457) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to provide that telephone conversations conducted over cordless telephones be given the same privacy protection as conversations conducted over wire-to-wire or cellular telephones.

Senior Speed Limit: Passed and sent to the governor on a 24-6 vote a bill (SB 1860) by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) to let local governments establish 25-m.p.h. speed limits on streets where there are facilities primarily used by senior citizens.

Worker Safety: Passed and sent to the governor on a 26-9 vote a bill (AB 4006) by Assemblyman Sal Cannella (D-Modesto) to increase by 50% the maximum state fines for job safety violations.

Mental Health Workers: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 24-6 vote a bill (AB 1693) by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to require Los Angeles County to develop a security plan for its mental health workers to help prevent them from possible injury or death. The bill was prompted by the murder of a social worker by a mentally ill homeless person last year at a Santa Monica outpatient clinic. Capital Fact

The 80-member Assembly uses a computerized voting system. Members push a green light (yes) or a red light (no) at their desks to vote on bills. Results are recorded on two large panels at the front of the chamber. In the 40-member Senate, voting is accomplished by voice roll call.