Senate OKs Bill to Toughen Sentencing for Spousal Rapists

Legislation to subject spousal rapists to the same prison terms as other rapists has been approved by the Legislature.

A 54-0 vote sent the bill (AB 2220) by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles) to Gov. Pete Wilson. There was no debate. The measure had passed the Senate on a 24-2 vote. Wilson has not indicated whether he will sign it.

The measure would send most convicted spousal rapists to state prison for up to eight years, the same punishment given to most other rapists.

Current law provides that spousal rape can be prosecuted either as a misdemeanor with a maximum one-year sentence in county jail or as a felony with a penalty of three to eight years in state prison.

Most district attorneys charge spousal rapists with a misdemeanor because juries often are reluctant to send the defendant, usually an estranged husband, to prison for the longer sentence.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Pregnant Employees: Passed and sent to the governor on a 51-18 vote a bill (AB 2865) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) that would require employers to reasonably accommodate pregnant employees, such as transferring them to less strenuous or less hazardous duties if requested to do so.

Sexual Harassment: Passed and sent to the governor on a 44-26 vote a bill (AB 2900) by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) that would require state educational institutions to provide students with complete information on how to report sexual harassment and available remedies.

Breast Cancer: Passed and sent to the governor on a 48-0 vote a bill (AB 2652) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) that would permit a state income tax refund checkoff system for donations to help finance breast cancer research work.

Offshore Oil Drilling: Passed and sent to the governor on a 41-23 vote a bill (AB 854) by Assemblyman Ted Lempert (D-San Mateo) that would prohibit new oil drilling leases in state waters between San Simeon Point in San Luis Obispo County and the Farallon Islands off San Francisco.

Firearms: Passed and sent to the governor on a 69-0 vote a bill (AB 2777) by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) to make it a possible felony to carry a concealed or loaded firearm or exhibit a firearm in a threatening manner at a playground or youth center.

SENATE

Floor Action

Abortions: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 22-10 vote a bill (AB 1849) by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) that would crack down on unlicensed anti-abortion centers that use misleading advertising practices.

Grave Depth: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 28-3 vote a bill (AB 1981) by Assemblyman Dave Elder (D-Long Beach) that would require caskets containing bodies to be buried under at least 18 inches of dirt.

Gubernatorial Appointments: Confirmed on 38-0 votes the gubernatorial appointments of William Kolender as director of the Youth Authority, Sharon Sharp as director of the state lottery, Donald Murphy as director of the Parks and Recreation Department, Richard Wilson as director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and Victoria Bradshaw as director of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

San Francisco Giants: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-1 vote a resolution (SCR 89) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) urging major league baseball club owners not to approve a proposed move by the San Francisco Giants to St. Petersburg, Florida.

Committee Action

Illegal Immigrants: The Appropriations Committee approved a bill (AB 2519) by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) to make it easier to deport illegal immigrants who are convicted of violent crimes. An 11-0 vote sent the bill to the Senate floor.