Wilson Signs Bill to Pay for Metal Detectors in L.A. Schools

Gov. Pete Wilson has signed a bill authorizing the spending of $1 million in federal funds to buy walk-through metal detectors to prevent students in Los Angeles city schools from bringing guns on campus.

The governor said the presence and use of guns in the Los Angeles Unified School District has reached “alarming proportions.”

“A safe school environment is a primary component to learning,” Wilson said. “It’s simply impossible for students to focus on reading, writing and arithmetic when they worry about muggings, shootings and dope dealing.”

Authored by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), the new law (AB 777) is effectively immediately.

GOVERNOR

Bills Signed

* Liquor Stores: AB 2897 by Assemblyman Louis Caldera (D-Los Angeles) to limit the licensing of new liquor stores in high-crime neighborhoods already saturated with liquor stores and bars.

* More Liquor Stores: AB 463 by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) to increase fines and penalties for liquor law violators, including a license suspension for a second illegal sale to a minor within three years.

* Nude Juice Bars: SB 1863 by Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay) to permit cities and counties to regulate so-called juice bars that currently sidestep local laws regulating nude entertainment by serving only nonalcoholic drinks.

* Adoption Consent: AB 3336 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) to reduce the number of days from 120 to 90 during which the mother of an adopted child can change her mind, revoke consent and have the child returned to her.

* Teen-Age Vandalism: AB 308 by Assemblyman Dean Andal (R-Stockton) to increase parental liability for teen-age vandalism damages from $10,000 to $25,000, but keep an insurer’s liability to the existing $10,000 limit.

* Juvenile Graffiti: AB 2595 by Assemblyman Tom Connolly (D-Lemon Grove) to require juveniles convicted of graffiti crimes to be sentenced to a minium of 24 hours community service, and require a parent or guardian to supervise at least half of the time, which would be in addition to any other court-ordered penalties.

* Child Custody: SB 1700 by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to give judges in child custody hearings the ability to control the examination of child witnesses to protect the best interest of the child.

* Mono Lake: AB 3096 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) provides $9 million to implement an agreement among the Wilson Administration, environmental groups and the city of Los Angeles to protect and restore Mono Lake.

* Health Benefits: SB 1893 by Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay) to prohibit cities, counties, school districts and special districts from providing health benefits to new board members after their term in office expires.

* Racetrack Winnings: AB 2935 by Assemblyman Bill Hoge (R-Pasadena) to allow holders of winning parimutuel racetrack tickets to claim their winnings by May 15 of the year after the close of the meet instead of 120 days after the closure.

Bill Vetoed

* Prison Lumber: AB 3131 by Assemblyman Dan Hauser (D-Arcata) to require state prison authorities to purchase California-produced hardwood lumber from vendors if it is comparable in price and quality to other out-of-state hardwood lumber. The governor said he was concerned that the bill would probably be found unconstitutional by the courts.