Bill Would Wipe ‘Knucklehead’ Statutes Off the State’s Books

Outdated state laws going as far back as the 1849 Gold Rush days would be repealed under a bill that has been introduced in the Assembly.

“It’s amazing when you realize some of the Jurassic, unproductive, negligible and knucklehead laws that still remain on the law books in California,” said Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria), the author of the measure (AB 3326).

O’Connell cited statutes pertaining to such subjects as dueling, frog-jumping contests rules, “wanted dead or alive” reward posters and the illegal sale of quicksilver to “salt” gold mining claims to sell to unsuspecting prospectors.

He said he expects his list to grow substantially as other legislators discover additional laws that no longer are needed and should be wiped from the books.

ASSEMBLY

Bill Introductions

* Firearms: AB 120-121X by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) would authorize a $25-million bond issue to be submitted to the voters to allow local law enforcement agencies to buy and destroy firearms from individuals.

* Handguns: AB 122X, also by Speier, would make manufacturers and sellers of handguns liable for injuries or deaths caused by those firearms.

* Minor Gun Penalties: AB 3499 by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) would require minors convicted of illegally carrying any kind of firearm to complete 100 hours of community service and lose their driver’s licenses until they are 18, in addition to any other court-ordered punishment.

* New Jobs: AB 3401 by Assemblyman Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) would give $1,000 tax credits to new businesses for every new job that they create as requested by Gov. Pete Wilson in his State of the State speech.

SENATE

Bill Introductions

* Ammunition Magazines: SB 37X by Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) would add to two to four years to prison terms of people convicted of carrying loaded or unloaded firearms together with detachable ammunition magazines in their automobiles during the commission of street gang crimes.

* Nude Dancing Bars: SB 1863 by Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay) would allow local governments to close down nude dancing bars that serve juice and soft drinks instead of alcoholic beverages to sidestep regulations.

* Fire Protection: SB 2116 by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) would require the state fire marshal to adopt standards of brush removal to allow fire equipment access to homes in high fire danger areas; local agencies would have to meet or surpass the standards.

* Breast Cancer: SB 1965 by Sen. Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) would require physicians to stay up to date on breast cancer detection and treatment options by continuing to take medical education courses.

* Regulatory Boards: SB 2038 by Sen. Dan McCorquodale (D-Modesto) would require state business regulatory boards designed to protect consumers to justify their existence and performance every few years or face elimination to save taxpayers money.

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