Senate Passes Measure to Ban Pellet, BB Guns From Schools

The Senate has unanimously passed legislation to outlaw pellet and BB guns on elementary and secondary school campuses.

A 38-0 vote forwarded the bill (SB 647) by Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay) to the Assembly.

State law already prohibits firearms on campuses.

“In some areas, schools have gone from being an institution of learning to being a scene of violence and intimidation,” Leslie said. “It is a vicious cycle that convinces more students every day that they need to be armed when they come to school.”

Gun safety and target practice classes could still be conducted on campus with pellet and BB guns with the written consent of the school principal.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Child Molestation: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 69-0 vote a bill (AB 2009) by Assemblywoman Margaret E. Snyder (D-Modesto) to restrict the court’s ability to grant probation in cases of continuous sexual abuse of a minor and child molestation. The bill was sparked by the recent Tuolumne County courtroom killing of an alleged child molester by the mother of the involved child.

* Doctor Labs: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 63-2 vote a bill (AB 919) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) to prohibit most doctors from referring patients to laboratories or clinics in which they have a financial interest.

* Graffiti Vandals: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 62-0 vote a bill (AB 1179) by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Cerritos) to increase the penalties for convicted repeat graffiti vandals, including making the crime a felony carrying a three-year prison term for a third offense.

* Offshore Gambling: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 48-15 vote a bill (AB 74) by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) to permit offshore casino-type gambling on cruise ships traveling in international waters between California ports. The bill would not take effect until the courts or Congress take action to prohibit it from also allowing Indian casino-type gambling.

* Motor Voter: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 45-26 vote a bill (AB 271) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-San Jose) to implement the federal “motor voter” law to allow applicants for state drivers licenses and vehicle registration to register to vote at the same time.

* Drug Penalties: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 67-0 vote a bill (AB 629) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Brentwood) to increase the prison penalty for the sale of illegal drugs at public parks and beaches.

* Child Care: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 46-26 vote a bill (AB 1171) by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) to require child day-care homes to have both smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Smoking Ban: Passed on a 23-3 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a resolution (ACR 27) by Assemblyman Phillip Isenberg (D-Sacramento) to prohibit smoking in all areas of the state Capitol controlled by the Legislature, including the floors of both houses, committee hearing rooms, offices, hallways, stairwells, restaurants and restrooms.

* Handgun Purchases: Rejected on a 20-12 vote a bill (SB 247) by Sen. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland) to require handgun purchasers to be fingerprinted and photographed by local law enforcement agencies for identification cards before they could purchase a pistol or revolver.

* University of California: Passed and sent to the Assembly on 21-12 vote a bill (SB 504) by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to prohibit the University of California Board of Regents from voting in private session on compensation or fringe benefits for top university officials.

* Public Works Jobs: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 22-13 vote a bill (SB 125) by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) to require at least 50% of the employees on state public works projects to be California residents.

* Electric Automobiles: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-3 vote a bill (SB 668) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to provide a sales tax break to purchasers of electric cars that do not cause air pollution.