Assembly OKs Bill Requiring Helmets for Young Bike Riders

Bicyclists younger than 18 would be required to wear safety helmets under legislation that has been narrowly approved by the Assembly.

A 42-27 vote, one more than the 41 votes required for approval, sent the bill (AB 2268) by Assemblyman Louis Caldera (D-Los Angeles) to the Senate. There was no debate on the lower house floor.

Caldera said his measure would help reduce head injuries and deaths caused by bicycle accidents involving children. Opponents believe it is an example of excessive state regulation.

The proposed law would require only warnings during 1994, but after that violators could be fined $25.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Grocery stores: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-32 vote a bill (AB 1605) by Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-North Hollywood) to require supermarkets, groceries and drugstores with 20 or more employees to develop security plans to help protect customers and workers.

* Attorney advertising: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 72-0 vote a bill (AB 208) by Assemblyman Paul Horcher (R-Diamond Bar) to prohibit attorney advertising from promising quick cash settlements or guaranteeing trial outcomes.

* Harmful matter: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 65-0 vote a bill (AB 17) by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) to prohibit the sale of so-called R-rated “harmful” publications from news racks located within 250 feet of schools unless the news rack is under adult supervision.

* Jail movies: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 71-0 vote a bill (AB 1685) by Assemblyman Ray Haynes (R-Murrieta) to prohibit state and county jail officials from allowing minor inmates to watch excessively violent or sexually explicit movies or videotapes.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Unemployment insurance: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-15 vote a bill (SB 150) by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) to increase the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit from $230 to $245 Jan. 1 and to $260 on Jan. 1, 1995.

* Drug wiretaps: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 22-4 vote a bill (SB 800) by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to extend the present state drug wiretap authorization law from Jan. 1 to Jan. 1, 1999, to help catch more major traffickers.

* Murder trials: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-9 vote a bill (SB 663) by Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay) to allow the prosecution to present evidence regarding the impact on the victim’s family and friends during the penalty phase of murder trials.

* Firearm thefts: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 25-0 vote a bill (SB 180) by Sen. Teresa Hughes (D-Inglewood) to require firearms dealers in urban areas to store their guns in a vault or safe to prevent theft when the stores are closed.