Lawmakers Take Quick Aim at Crime : Legislature: The 1994 season opens with bills in both houses calling for life imprisonment for those convicted of a third violent felony.
SACRAMENTO — The Legislature began the year Monday concerned about crime and two lawmakers quickly proposed to lock away repeat offenders for life.
Setting the tone, at least in the early stages of the 1994 session, Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) confirmed earlier assessments that crime will be among the top legislative issues this year. “The public generally believes they are in danger and more so than they have ever been,†he told reporters on the Assembly floor.
Gov. Pete Wilson has called a special legislative session on crime--to run with the regular session--urging lawmakers to quickly adopt measures to give life sentences to criminals convicted of a third violent felony.
One of the first measures introduced Monday was a bill by Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove) that is identical to a “three strikes and you’re out†proposal intended for the November general election ballot. A similar measure was introduced by Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Placentia). Enactment of either bill could eliminate the need for the voter initiative.
Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) also introduced legislation to prohibit violent and sexual offenders from using work-time credits to reduce their prison sentences by more than 15%.
Keeping with the anti-crime theme of its opening day, the Assembly adjourned in the memory of Polly Klaas, the 12-year-old Petaluma girl who was kidnaped from her home during a slumber party and later killed, causing nationwide publicity that helped persuade Wilson to call the special crime session.
The Speaker said he plans to attend Wilson’s crime summit this month in Los Angeles where a host of experts are scheduled to recommend what should be done to curb growing crime.
“I don’t have a crime agenda of my own,†Brown said. “I hope it (the summit) will not be a waste of energy.â€
Brown said he hoped that his education summit, planned for mid-February in San Francisco, would produce results at least equal to last year’s economic summit, credited by some with helping in the adoption of workers’ compensation reform.
Monday’s opening day was punctuated with the roaring sound of motorcycles as an estimated 500 black-leather-clad riders rallied outside the Capitol to urge lawmakers to repeal a 1992 mandatory helmet law.
Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys), the first victim of voter-approved term limits, said he will step down from his leadership post soon, but declined to give a date. Roberti is expected to be succeeded by Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) by the end of this month.
Wilson is scheduled to present his annual State of the State speech to the Assembly and Senate at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and unveil his 1994-95 proposed state budget Friday morning.
Times staff writer Carl Ingram contributed to this story.
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