Plan for High-Voltage Fences at Prisons Approved by Senate

High-voltage electrified fences could be installed around medium- and maximum-security prisons, allowing for fewer guards and thus saving taxpayers an estimated $43 million a year under legislation passed by the Senate.

A 23-1 vote sent the bill, SB 1341, sponsored by Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim), to the Assembly with very little floor debate.

The high-voltage fences would eliminate the need for about 189 full-time staffed gun towers around prison perimeters, Royce said.

The measure also would require the posting of signs warning “Deadly Voltage” in English and Spanish on both sides of the fences.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Bungee Jumping: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 46-22 vote a bill (AB 2778) by Assemblyman Paul Horcher (R-Hacienda Heights) to require the operators of bungee-jumping services to maintain a $1-million liability insurance policy for their customers.

Governor’s Speeches: Rejected on a 37-15 vote a resolution (AJR 68) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) to let the governor give his State of the State speech to a joint session of the Legislature only if he is sworn in under oath and subject to criminal prosecution for perjury.

Junk Fax: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 43-20 vote a bill (AB 2438) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to restrict the transmission of unsolicited advertising material over facsimile machines and impose a $500 fine for illegal transmissions.

English Only: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-27 vote a bill (AB 2440) by Assemblyman Xavier Becerra (D-Monterey Park) to make it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to require an employee to speak only English in the workplace unless there is a business necessity for it.

Cancer Treatment: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 51-0 vote a bill (AB 3756) by Assemblyman Byron D. Sher (D-Palo Alto) to prohibit the harvest and sale of Pacific yew trees unless they are used to manufacture the anti-cancer drug taxol for women who have breast or ovarian cancer.

Animal Testing: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 63-0 vote a bill (AB 3691) by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) to prohibit the introduction of evidence obtained through live-animal experimentation in motor vehicle liability lawsuits.

Violent Crime: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 68-0 vote a bill (AB 2775) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to require the development of a statewide plan to reduce and prevent violent crimes against women.

Sports Trading Cards: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 72-0 vote a bill (AB 3597) by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) to make it a misdemeanor to forge or counterfeit a sports trading card with the intent of deceiving another person.

Law Enforcement: Rejected on a 49-11 vote a bill (AB 2479) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to expand the use of redevelopment funds to include assigning more law enforcement officers to reduce gang violence and drug trafficking.

Charitable Donations: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 61-1 vote a bill (AB 3797) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to require charities to disclose how much of the money that they collect goes to the needy and how much goes for administrative expenses.

AIDS Needle Project: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-31 vote a bill (AB 2525) by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) to authorize a pilot needle and syringe exchange project in San Francisco and other communities as an AIDS prevention tactic.

Auto Service Contracts: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-33 vote a bill (AB 3374) by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Norwalk) to implement state regulation of auto service contracts purchased by buyers of new and used vehicles.

Bill Introductions

Los Angeles Riot: AB 41X-44X by Assemblyman Phillip Wyman (R-Tehachapi) would extend the state’s anti-looting law to include looting during a riot, make the killing of a peace officer by a gang member a special circumstance warranting the death sentence and permit National Guardsmen to keep their ammunition with their own units instead of at scattered locations across the state.

More Riot: AB 46X by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) would authorize investment tax credits for small businesses within the Los Angeles riot area that rebuild their facilities.

SENATE

Floor Action

Stalking: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 35-0 vote a bill (SB 1342) by Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) to expand the legal definition of the crime of stalking to include family members of the person who is being followed or harassed.

Arson Fires: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 36-0 vote a bill (SB 2008) by Sen. Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier) to require convicted juvenile arsonists to register with local police when they are released from the Youth Authority.

Child Health Care: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-3 vote a bill (SB 1832) by Sen. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) declaring it is the intent of the Legislature to provide affordable health care for children through a comprehensive benefits package.

Child Abuse: Passed and sent to Assembly on a 31-0 vote a bill (SB 1695) by Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) to require child visitation monitors to report known or suspected child abuse.