Bill Outlawing Smuggling of Illegal Immigrants Clears Panel

The Assembly Public Safety Committee has unanimously approved a bill making it a state crime to smuggle illegal immigrants into California for profit.

The offense would be punishable by five to nine years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

A 6-0 vote sent the bill (AB 2402) by Assemblywoman Julie Bornstein (D-Palm Desert) to the Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.

Bornstein said federal law covers the smuggling of illegal immigrants but is not consistently enforced.

“This bill will allow authorities the flexibility to prosecute in the absence of federal action,” she said. “California must make a strong statement that we will not tolerate this kind of activity by human traffickers.”

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Condom Safety: Passed and sent to the governor on 43-28 vote a bill (AB 1623) by Assemblywoman Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) to require condom manufacturers to provide information concerning safety tests and failure rates to consumers.

* Abortion Clinics: Passed and sent the governor on a 65-0 vote a bill (AB 68) by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) to make it a crime to throw acid or other caustic chemicals into an abortion clinic.

* Stalker Damages: Passed and sent to the governor on a 69-0 vote a bill (AB 1548) by Alpert to allow victims of stalkers to sue for civil damages.

* Marijuana Smoking: Granted final approval on a voice vote to a resolution (HR 27) by state Sen. Henry J. Mello (D-Santa Cruz) requesting Congress to enact legislation to allow physicians to prescribe smoking marijuana as part of the treatment of certain diseases.

* Domestic Violence: Passed and sent to the governor on a 44-28 vote a bill (SB 5) by state Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to increase the marriage license fee from $19 to $23 to raise funds for domestic violence prevention programs.

* Chop Shops: Passed and sent to the governor on a 66-0 vote a bill (SB 73) by state Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to make it a crime to own or operate a so-called chop shop for the sale of stolen automobile parts.

Committee Action

* Drug Wiretaps: The Public Safety Committee approved a bill (SB 800) by Presley to extend the state drug wiretap authorization law from next Jan. 1 to Jan. 1, 1999, to help catch more major traffickers. A 5-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Bill Introductions

* U.S. Citizenship: AJR 49 by Assemblyman Richard L. Mountjoy (R-Arcadia) calls for a constitutional change to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen for a baby to be granted U.S. citizenship.

* Federal Mandates: AJR 50 by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Cerritos) requests both California U.S. senators and members of Congress to appear before the Legislature annually to discuss problems related to unfunded federal mandates and discuss new burdens imposed upon the state.

SENATE

Committee Action

* Information Officers: The Appropriations Committee approved a bill (AB 173) by Assemblywoman Valerie Brown (D-Sonoma) to eliminate 190 state public information officers, reduce salaries for appointed members of 11 highly paid state boards and commissions to the $52,000 paid to state legislators, and cut travel budgets in half. An 8-5 vote sent the bill to the Senate floor.

(Readers who wish to communicate with state legislators regarding Assembly and Senate bills can write to them at the State Capitol, Sacramento, Calif. 95814.)