Bill Would Make It a Crime to Give Hate Literature to Children

Legislation making it a crime to distribute hate literature urging children to resort to violence against others because of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability or gender has been introduced in the state Assembly.

The author of the measure (AB 138X) is Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), who said such materials have been popping up recently in Southern California schools, toy shops and libraries.

“We have laws protecting children from receiving pornographic and obscene material,” Katz said, “but there is no law protecting them from people who want to teach them hatred and violence. That just doesn’t make sense.”

GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (AB 927) by Assemblywoman Kathleen Honeycutt (R-Hesperia) prohibiting the production, distribution or sale of materials depicting sexual or lewd activity involving minors.

Signed into law a bill (AB 17) by Sen. Steve Peace (D-Bonita) making it a misdemeanor to sell pornography in a news rack unless the outlet is supervised by an adult or located in an area not frequented by children.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Juvenile Criminals: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 48-0 vote a bill (AB 48X) by Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) that allows names of minors 14 years or older who are convicted of serious or violent felonies to be publicly released.

* 911 Calls: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 74-0 vote a bill (AB 2741) by Assemblyman Sal Cannella (D-Ceres) making it a misdemeanor to repeatedly make non-emergency telephone calls to 911 operators.

Committee Action

* Lemon Autos: The Consumer Protection Committee approved a bill (AB 3333) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) establishing an arbitration program to help unhappy buyers of new cars get a replacement vehicle or their money back. An 8-3 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

* Weekend Elections: The Elections Committee approved a bill (AB 3612) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) requiring all elections except presidential elections to be held on Saturdays or Sundays in order to increase voter turnout. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

* Campaign Finance Reform: The Elections Committee rejected a bill (AB 3694) by Assemblywoman Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) that would have limited campaign contributions, banned money transfers between candidates, restricted off-year fund raising and implemented partial public campaign financing.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Carjacking: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 28-1 vote a bill (SB 1311) by Sen. Bob Presley (D-Riverside) extending the death penalty to those convicted of first-degree murder during a carjacking.

Committee Action

* Murder Trials: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 1539) by Sen. Dan McCorquodale (D-Modesto) allowing 14- and 15-year-olds accused of murder to be tried in adult courts. A 7-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

* Drug Testing: The Transportation Committee approved a bill (SB 2034) by Sen. Ruben S. Ayala (D-Chino) requiring intrastate commercial truck drivers to be tested for drug use, a move aimed at reducing highway traffic accidents, deaths and injuries. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.