Legislator’s bills see action
Karen S. Kim
A busy week for the state Assembly and Senate and House of
Representatives has yielded the passage of a number of bills by local
legislators.
The House of Representatives has passed the “Child Obscenity and
Pornography Prevention Act of 2002,” a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-Glendale).
The bill, authored by Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Homeland
Security and Terrorism Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), aims to
prevent trafficking in child pornography, prohibit pandering and
solicitation relating to visual depictions of minors engaging in
sexually explicit conduct and to prevent the use of child pornography
to facilitate crimes against children.
The bill passed with a 413-8 vote.
Three bills authored by state Sen. Jack Scott (D-Glendale) were
passed this week by legislative committees.
The Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and Economy Committee
unanimously passed Scott’s measure, SB 1657, that would establish a
regional trade office in Armenia.
“We congratulate Sen. Scott for all his efforts in making this
trade office a reality,” Armen Janian, the honorary chairman of the
Armenian American Chamber of Commerce, released in a statement.
“Our mission in expanding trade and investment opportunities for
California business looking for export markets and investment
possibilities in Armenia and other regional markets will be greatly
enhanced by the establishment of a regional trade office in Armenia.”
In addition, SB 510, Scott’s bill aiming to improve security at
California airports by barring firearm parts and imitation firearms
in airport facilities was passed un- animously by the Assembly Public
Safety Committee.
Scott’s fast-track school administrator credential bill, SB 1655,
which allows those vying for an administrator credential to do so by
passing a written test rather than finishing mandatory graduate
coursework at a university, was passed by the Assembly Appropriations
Committee with a unanimous vote.
Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) was not as fortunate as his
colleagues over the past week, as the Senate Committee on
Governmental Organization killed his bill banning Internet gambling
Tuesday.
“It’s very curious to me that this same Senate committee just two
years ago passed a similar bill, but this year, not one member of the
committee would cast a vote for my bill,” Frommer said.
“The only difference this year is that a major Indian gaming
association voiced its opposition to the bill. I think it’s sad
because I think it’s a testament to the power of Indian gaming money
in politics, that too many members are afraid to stand up to them or
disagree with them.”
The California Nations Indian Gaming Assn. opposed Frommer’s bill,
AB 1229, which would ban Internet gambling in California, a
$1.48-billion industry without regulation or control, Frommer said.
He added that the bill was inspired by calls from his constituents
complaining about not receiving money owed from Internet gambling
companies.
Frommer had better luck with a bill he coauthored with Sen. John
Burton (D-San Francisco) that extends the statue of limitations for
childhood sexual abuse victims filing lawsuits against employers or
other responsible third parties who knew about the molestation, but
failed to take any preventive actions.
Existing law requires that victims of childhood sexual assault
file claims by age 26, but under SB 1776, victims would have an
additional three years to file claims against a third party.
SB 1779 was passed by the Assembly 73-0.