Legislature Approves Installing High-Voltage Fences at Prisons

High-voltage electrified fences could be installed around medium- and maximum-security prisons, reducing the number of guard required and thus saving taxpayers more than $40 million a year, under a bill passed by the Legislature on Friday night.

A 31-1 vote sent the bill (SB 1341) by Sen. Edward Royce (R-Anaheim) to Gov. Pete Wilson for his expected signature. It previously passed the Assembly by a 57-8 vote.

The fences would have to have signs on both sides saying “Deadly Voltage” in English and Spanish.

GOVERNOR

Bills Signed

Riot Firebombing: SB 2067 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) to increase the prison sentence for arson or firebombing during a riot to nine years from seven.

Illegal Drugs: SB 1057 by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) and SB 1820 by Sen. Lucy Killea (I-San Diego) to increase potential penalties for people who sell or purchase materials used to manufacture illegal drugs.

Junk Fax Ads: AB 2438 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to restrict the transmission of unsolicited junk advertising material over fax machines.

Shoulder Seat Belts: AB 1751 by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) to require used car dealers to inform purchasers of the safety advantages of installing shoulder harness-lap belt combinations in vehicles.

Rapists’ Children: AB 1296 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to prevent convicted rapists from claiming custody or blocking the adoption of a child conceived during the crime.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Child Molestation: Passed 60 to 1 and sent to the governor a bill (AB 638) by Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) that would provide an exception to the statute of limitations by allowing a person of any age to file a criminal complaint charging that he or she was a victim of sexual child molestation.

Auto Insurance: Passed and sent to the governor on 68-2 vote a bill (AB 2078) by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) that would require motorists to show proof of automobile insurance upon the request of a law enforcement officer if they are stopped for a traffic violation or involved in an accident.

Credit Reports: Passed 69 to 0 and sent to the governor a bill (AB 1620) by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chulas Vista) that would require creditors who intend to submit negative information to a credit bureau to notify the consumer first.

Heroin Sales: Passed 74 to 0 and sent to the governor a bill (AB 2124) by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) that would increase penalties for the sale of heroin on or near school grounds.

SENATE

Floor Action

Open Meetings: Adopted 39-0 a two-house conference committee report on a bill (SB 1538) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) that would strengthen the state’s open meetings law as it applies to city councils and county boards of supervisors.

Israel: Passed 22 to 7 and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 2251) by Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) that would prohibit the investment of state pension funds in businesses that participate in the Arab-led economic boycott of Israel.

Radioactive Waste: Passed 26 to 4 and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a bill (AB 3798) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) that would require the recovery and recycling of radioactive waste intended for disposal at Ward Valley near Needles.

Security Guards: Passed 30 to 0 and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 2917) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Sherman Oaks) that would require security guards to undergo a full background check by the Department of Justice if they want to carry an exposed firearm.