Assembly OKs Bill to Require Trigger Locks

Riding a wave of interest in gun safety, the state Assembly on Thursday passed legislation that would require all firearms sold in California to be packaged with a state-approved trigger safety device.

The measure by Assemblyman Jack Scott (D-Altadena) is designed to prevent unintentional shootings, especially by children. It would direct Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer to fashion standards for the safety devices and require them on all firearms sold beginning in 2002.

“Friends, it’s much better to childproof our guns than bulletproof our children,” said Scott, whose grown son was fatally shot in 1993 when the host of a party showed off a new 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun.

Scott, his voice breaking with emotion, told his colleagues that between 1988 and 1997, 226 children and 554 adults in California were killed in gun accidents, including his son Adam.

“If there had been a trigger lock on that gun, my son would be alive today,” Scott said.

Last month, the state Senate, which is expected to endorse Scott’s proposal (AB 106), approved a virtually identical measure by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles).

From 1989 through last year, former Republican Govs. George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson vetoed four bills to require the attachment of trigger locks or similar safety devices.

Democratic Gov. Gray Davis “has voiced his support for safety locks on guns but has not taken a position on this bill yet,” said spokesman Michael Bustamante.

Voting for Scott’s bill Thursday were 40 Democrats, four Republicans and one Green Party member; 13 Republicans opposed it and 22 abstained.

The action was the latest on gun control and safety in the wake of the shootings April 20 at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Since then state lawmakers have rushed to pass stiffer restrictions on assault weapons, strengthen regulation of gun shows and limit to one the number of handguns that could be purchased in a month.

Facing a deadline today to move legislation to the Senate, the Assembly met into the night for the third straight day to finish handling scores of bills. The Senate concluded its session before noon.

But first, the Senate voted 21 to 15 to include more children of low-income families in the state’s new health insurance program for the working poor. The measure (SB 102) by Sen. Hilda Solis (D-La Puente) was similar to legislation passed by the Assembly late Wednesday.

The Assembly measure (AB 43) by Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) would expand coverage in the state’s Healthy Families program to more uninsured children and the parents of children in the program. It was sent to the Senate on a 48-30 vote.

Villaraigosa said his bill is intended to help families “whose incomes are too low to afford private insurance and too high to qualify for Medi-Cal benefits.”

The Senate on Thursday voted unanimous approval of a bill by Solis that would greatly increase state support for expansion of local shelter programs for battered women.

The $25 million earmarked for the programs, which would tap the state’s $4.5-billion budget surplus, would be in addition to $5 million already set aside in the budget for temporary housing of victims of domestic violence.

In other actions:

* Violence: The Senate unanimously approved a bill that would allow school authorities to suspend or expel a student who had been charged with committing a violent crime off campus, such as rape, but had not been convicted of the offense. Sen. Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) said his bill (SB 756) would allow for the expulsion of a student who had been accused of a crime that occurred across the street from school property. The vote was 34 to 0.

* Nursing homes: After emotional testimony by legislators about their aging parents, a sweeping bill to upgrade nursing home care cleared the Assembly 52 to 11. The bill (AB 1160) by Assemblyman Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco) would increase the number of nurse assistants in homes while improving their pay and training.

* Insurance: The Senate passed to the Assembly a controversial bill (SB 898) by Sen. Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana). The measure would establish tighter controls on the ability of insurance companies to cancel and increase rates on long-term policies issued to cover costs of the elderly at skilled nursing, residential care and certain community health centers. The vote was 24 to 15.

* Discrimination: The Assembly narrowly approved a bill (AB 1001) by Villaraigosa that would make it illegal to discriminate in housing and employment on the basis of sexual orientation. The measure, approved 41 to 34, is intended to offer those who suffer discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation the same protection as those who experience discrimination on the basis of other conditions.

* College fees: Starting this fall, community college students would pay $1 less for each unit of credit under a measure (AB 1602) approved by the Assembly. The bill by Assemblyman Mike Machado (D-Linden) would reduce fees in the state’s 106 community colleges from $12 to $11 per credit hour. It was sent to the Senate on a 65-12 vote.

* Convicts: The Senate approved a bill restoring rehabilitation of inmates as a purpose of the California prison system. The bill (SB 1117) by Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) would retain existing policy that prisons are for the prevention and punishment of crime. The vote was 21 to 16.

* Pesticides: On a 48-25 vote, the Assembly backed a measure by Shelley to crack down on the use of pesticides around schools and improve the quality of classroom air.

* Driver’s license: On a 41-32 vote, the Assembly late Wednesday agreed to make it easier for immigrants to get a California driver’s license. Under the measure (AB 1463) by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), applicants would no longer have to submit a Social Security number and proof that they are in the United States legally.

Times staff writer Amy Pyle contributed to this story.