Bill OKd to Freeze Money Made From Accused Felons’ Notoriety

Sparked by the O.J. Simpson case, a bill allowing the state to freeze proceeds from the sale of books, movies and other goods resulting from the notoriety of those accused of felonies has been approved by the Legislature.

A 31-1 vote sent the legislation (SB 287) by state Sen. Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) to Gov. Pete Wilson. The measure had passed the Assembly 51 to 16.

Calderon said his bill is needed to prevent those accused from making money from publicity concerning their alleged crimes, spending it before being convicted in court, and leaving their victims uncompensated for their losses.

GOVERNOR

Bills Signed

* Bad Checks: AB 522 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) increases the maximum amount of money business owners can collect from bad check writers from $500 to $1,500.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Rhino Bullets: Passed and sent to the governor on a 50-3 vote a bill (AB 99) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) prohibiting the sale of so-called rhino bullets that can penetrate bulletproof vests worn by police and explode on contact with flesh.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Home Improvement: Passed and sent to the governor on a 22-11 vote a bill (SB 320) by Sen. Nicholas Petris (D-Oakland) prohibiting door-to-door salespeople from soliciting the elderly with home improvements requiring large residential loans to pay for the work.

* Welfare Employees: Passed and sent to the governor on a 35-0 vote a bill (SB 634) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) allowing county welfare employees to give police information about the location of clients with outstanding arrest warrants.

* School Tests: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 33-1 vote a bill (SB 76) by Sen. Roy Haynes (R-Riverside) requiring students to read and pass a test on the contents of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers before receiving their high school diplomas.

Bill Introductions

* Fertility Clinics: SB 1363 by Sen. Bill Leonard (R-San Bernardino) requires doctors to obtain patients’ consent for all planned or expected uses of removed tissue, organs or eggs. The bill is an outgrowth of problems involving the fertility clinic at UC Irvine.

Miscellany

* New Assembly Committee: Speaker Doris Allen (R-Cypress) has created an 11-member Committee on Government Effectiveness and Accountability with a broad mandate to streamline the legislative process and adopt policies to make state government work more effectively and efficiently. The new panel, to be chaired by Assemblyman Bernie Richter (R-Chico), is composed of six Republicans and five Democrats. It is both a policy and fiscal committee, and can move legislation directly to the Assembly floor.

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