Assembly Passes Voting, Foreign Prisoner Bills

Over the objections of critics who called it an invitation to voter fraud, the California Assembly passed legislation Friday that would allow new citizens to register to vote on election day.

The Assembly also approved a measure that would allow authorities to send foreign prisoners convicted in California back to their home countries. Those votes and others came as the state lawmakers continued to debate dozens of bills before the end of the legislative session next week.

The voting bill, AB 51 by Democrat Jenny Oropeza of Long Beach, would allow immigrants who are sworn in as American citizens seven days before an election to register to vote on election day.

It was supported by immigrant rights groups and officials, including Republican Secretary of State Bill Jones. But some GOP legislators said it would burden already strapped elections workers and lead to voter fraud.

“It is important that we vote,” said Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks, “but it is also important that the person that votes be the person they say they are.”

Cox made his remarks after Democrat Kevin Shelley of San Francisco, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, encouraged support for the bill, noting the historic decline in participation among California voters.

The Assembly passed the measure on a 45-23 vote. It now goes to the desk of Gov. Gray Davis, who has not taken a position on it, according to a spokesman.

Proposition 52, a measure on the November ballot, would allow all prospective voters to register on election day. If it passed, the Oropeza bill would become moot.

The foreign prisoner bill, SB 1544 by Democrat Betty Karnette of Long Beach, would allow for noncitizens convicted of crimes in California to be returned to their home country to serve the term there if certain conditions are met. The prisoners could not be death row inmates or be serving life terms; state and federal officials, as well as officials in the inmate’s home country, would have to agree to the transfer.

“The advantage of this is really fiscal,” said Democrat Fred Keeley of Boulder Creek, noting that roughly 5,000 prisoners would be eligible, a number that would ease the burden on the state’s overcrowded prisons.

But some Republican lawmakers expressed concerns that drug kingpins and other politically connected prisoners would abuse the law to get out of prison faster.

“I am just suspicious that this will allow people who are serving long terms but have political pull in their home country” to exploit the situation, said Republican Phil Wyman of Tehachapi.

The measure passed 49 to 13. It still needs final Senate approval.

In other action:

* The Assembly passed legislation by Keeley that gives gay and lesbian domestic partners who are registered with the state inheritance rights to their deceased partner’s possessions in cases where there is no will. AB 2216 was approved on a 43-27 vote and now goes to Davis.

* The Assembly Judiciary Committee approved a measure to strengthen Californians’ control over how banks and other financial firms can use their financial information. SB 773 by Democrat Jackie Speier of Daly City now goes to the Assembly floor.