Assembly Panel OKs 3 Bills to Crack Down on Rioting

Sparked by the Los Angeles riots following the verdicts in the beating of Rodney G. King, three law-and-order bills passed by the Senate have been approved by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, sending them to the lower house floor.

All three measures, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys), passed with 20-0 committee votes.

The proposed measures (SB 2066-68) would prohibit probation from being granted for convictions of looting during a riot or state of emergency; increase the prison sentence for arson or fire-bombing during a riot from seven to nine years and allow the attorney general to offer rewards of up to $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of looters and rioters.

GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (AB 3691) by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) designed to discourage automobile manufacturers from using live animals in vehicle safety crash tests.

Signed into law a bill (AB 2953) by Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) to require local governmental agencies to mail advance notices of public meetings to persons who request them and agree to pay necessary costs.

ASSEMBLY

Bill Introductions

Abortions: AJR 96 by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Del Mar) requests the President and Congress to fully restore a woman’s right of procreative choice as a fundamental right, and to limit the ability of the individual states to adopt obstructions to a woman exercising that right.

SENATE

Committee Action

Buy American: The Rules Committee approved a resolution (ACR 115) by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Norwalk) urging Californians to buy American-made products to rejuvenate the sagging economy and create more jobs. A 3-0 vote sent the resolution to the Senate floor.

High-Speed Chases: The Judiciary Committee approved a resolution (AJR 93) by Assemblyman Steve Clute (D-Riverside) asking Congress to direct the Immigration and Naturalization Service to explore alternatives to high-speed chases of suspected illegal aliens in populated areas. At least 26 fatalities and 86 injuries have been attributed to U.S. Border Patrol high-speed chases in Southern California during the past 10 years. A 6-0 vote sent the resolution to the Senate floor.