Bill Would Let Death Row Inmates Pick Gas or Injection

Legislation to allow condemned convicts to choose between lethal gas or lethal injection has been introduced in the state Senate.

The bill (SB 2065) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) was introduced after the execution of Robert Alton Harris in San Quentin prison’s gas chamber this week.

Harris’ lawyers had argued that death by gas is an unconstitutionally cruel and unjust punishment.

GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (AB 962) by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Del Mar) requiring licensed child-care providers to have at least 15 hours of training in CPR and first-aid procedures to deal with emergencies.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Sex Discrimination: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-28 vote a bill (AB 2492) by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) that would provide for the award of attorney fees to plaintiffs who win sex discrimination suits filed against state educational institutions.

Battered Women: Passed and sent to the governor on a 42-24 vote a bill (AB 2373) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) that would require the cases of women imprisoned for killing their domestic relationship abusers to be reviewed by a special commission from the governor’s office.

Committee Action

Sexual Orientation: The Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (AB 2601) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) that would outlaw job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. A 12-9 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

Governor’s Speeches: The Rules Committee approved a resolution (AJR 68) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) calling for a rule to permit the governor to address a joint session of the Legislature only if he is sworn in under oath and therefore subject to criminal prosecution for perjury. A 5-3 vote sent the resolution to the Assembly floor.

Farm Worker Housing: The Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill (AB 3527) by Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) that would give tax credits to builders, lending institutions and growers who provide farm worker housing. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

SENATE

Committee Action

Ballot Measures: The Rules Committee approved a bill (SB 1475) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) that would require the state ballot pamphlet to list the top five campaign contributors to proposed ballot measures. A 5-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Blue Skies: The Transportation Committee approved a bill (SB 1395) by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) that would authorize special “blue sky” license plates for vehicles that use clean air fuels, such as natural gas, methanol and electricity. A 6-2 vote sent the bill to the Insurance Committee.

Capital Fact

Car thieves stole 312,598 vehicles worth an estimated $1.7 billion in California in 1991--almost 14,000 more vehicles than they stole in 1990, according to the Highway Patrol.