Assembly OKs Bill to Control Teen-Agers’ Gun Possession

In a move designed to crack down on teen-age drug dealers and gang members, the Assembly has passed a bill to strengthen controls on minors obtaining and possessing handguns and ammunition.

Sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego), the legislation (AB 1848) was sent to the Senate on a 45-29 vote. There was no debate.

The measure would prohibit the transfer of concealable firearms to minors, and prohibit minors from possessing them except at legitimate sporting events. In addition, a minor would have to be at least 16 and have written parental consent to purchase ammunition.

The Center for the Study of Handgun Violence reported that 1,897 youths were killed by gunfire in 1989, double the number killed in 1985, the Southern California lawmaker said.

GOVERNOR

Let become law without his signature a bill (AB97) by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Carson) which, in effect, legalizes all forms of poker in California, subject to local approval and compliance with state banking regulations.

Signed into law a bill (AB320) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos) authorizing school districts to deposit funds in any bank or financial institution in which money is federally insured.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Health Research: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 45-12 vote a bill (AB 2005) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to require state agencies that use public funds to ensure that women and minorities are proportionately represented in health research studies.

Waste Disposal: Passed and sent to the Senate on 43-29 vote a bill (AB 1103) by Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Oakland) to require regional water quality control boards to conduct unannounced inspections of facilities that discharge waste into Santa Monica, San Diego, San Francisco, Monterey, Humboldt and other bays.

College Tuition: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-27 vote a bill (AB 1472) by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to create a California Education Trust to permit parents to prepay college education costs for their children.

Cigarettes: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 50-21 vote a bill (AB 1305) by Assemblyman Ted Lempert (D-San Mateo) to reduce minors’ access to cigarettes by restricting vending machines to such places as taverns where young people are not allowed.

Compact Discs: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-31 vote a bill (AB 861) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to prohibit compact discs and audiocassettes from being sold in oversized containers.

SENATE

Committee Action

Cosmetic Surgery: The Business and Professions Committee approved a bill (AB 190) by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) to require doctors to inform patients in writing of the risks, side effects and disadvantages of cosmetic surgery involving silicone or collagen. A 5-3 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Capital Fact

Spaniard Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo was the first European to explore California in 1542. Sir Francis Drake landed north of San Francisco Bay in 1579.