Panel Acts to Keep Violent Inmates Behind Bars Longer

Legislation to keep violent offenders in prison longer by denying them sentence-shortening credits for work and good behavior has passed the Assembly Committee on Public Safety.

A 6-1 vote sent the bill (SB 1720), sponsored by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside), to the Ways and Means Committee. The next stop would be the Assembly floor. The measure previously passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote.

“The problem presented by early release of serious repeat violent offenders is that there are almost always immediate new victims,” said Presley, a former sheriff’s deputy. “This bill will help keep this type of offender in prison for their full sentences.”

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Gubernatorial Appointees: Sent to the governor on a 46-24 vote a bill (SB 2241) by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) to require the governor to appoint more women and more minorities to serve on state boards and commissions.

Hotel Reservations: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence in amendments on a 60-3 vote a bill (SB 2082) by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) to make hotels and motels subject to lawsuits for civil damages if they overbook and fail to provide accommodations guaranteed by reservations.

School Sales Tax: Rejected on a 33-36 vote a constitutional amendment (ACA 43) by Assemblyman Robert Campbell (D-Richmond) to increase the state sales tax one-half cent to raise $1.5 billion annually for 10 years to build new schools and reduce classroom overcrowding.

Fish and Game: Rejected on 42-30 vote a constitutional amendment (ACA 51), also by Campbell, to change the name of the state Fish and Game Commission to the Fish and Wildlife Commission and expand its membership from five to nine members. A two-thirds majority, or 54 votes, was required for approval.

Base Closures: Passed and sent to the governor on a 52-0 vote a bill (AB 3591) by Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) to set up a state task force to work on economic problems for communities adjusting to federal military base closures.

SENATE

Floor Action

Credit Reports: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 39-0 vote a bill (AB 2890) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to require credit-reporting agencies to notify job applicants when issuing adverse reports and send them a free copy.

Koreatown: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 28-4 vote a bill (AB 3816) by Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) to remove the one-year waiting period after citizenship to apply to become a peace officer, which would increase the eligible pool for Koreatown police officers.

Jet Skis: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 22-17 vote a bill (AB 2768) by Assemblywoman Sunny Mojonnier (R-Encinitas) to outlaw the operation of jet skis, wet bikes or surf jets by anyone under 16 years of age.

Cranes: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 39-0 vote a bill (AB 2537) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) to establish a state crane operator licensing board. The bill stems from a San Francisco accident in which several people were killed when a high-rise crane collapsed.

Public Drunkenness: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 24-6 vote a bill (AB 3056) by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Carson) to set up a special task force, including members from the alcoholic beverage industry, to study and make recommendations on how to reduce public drunkenness in urban areas.

Battered Women: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 30-0 vote a bill (AB 2613) by Assemblyman Gerald R. Eaves (D-Rialto) to allow evidence of continued battered-woman syndrome to be presented in court in defense of a woman who is on trial on a charge of killing her husband or live-in partner.

Committee Action

State Government Office Hours: The Rules Committee approved a bill (AB 3167) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to require most state agencies and legislative offices to be open to the public during the lunch hour on normal work days. A 3-2 vote sent the bill to the Senate floor.

Capital Fact

There still are approximately 1,500 bills that the Legislature must dispose of before the current session ends on Aug. 31.