Senate Approves 25-Year-to-Life Sentences for Child Molesters

The Senate has unanimously approved legislation calling for 25-year-to-life prison sentences for convicted first-time child molesters and violent rapists.

A 33-0 vote sent the bill (SB 26X) by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) to the Assembly.

Current state law provides for prison sentences ranging from three, six or eight years to life imprisonment for child molesters and rapists.

“Three strikes is too many--their first strike should be their last,� Bergeson said. “It is time to portray rapists and child molesters as what they are--dangerous felons who should not be allowed to repeat their crimes.�

GOVERNOR

Bills Signed

* Volunteer Police: SB 281 by Sen. Ruben S. Ayala (D-Chino) would allow local school boards to establish unpaid volunteer police reserve corps to supplement salaried school police forces.

* Dalkon Shields: AB 2855 by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) would waive the statute of limitations for filing claims for damages by women who allege that they were injured by Dalkon Shield intrauterine devices.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Sex Offenders: Passed and sent to the governor on a 59-0 vote a bill (AB 3458) by Assemblyman Trice Harvey (R-Bakersfield) to prohibit registered sex offenders from volunteering to serve as school classroom aides and supervising children at recesses and lunch breaks.

* More Sex Offenders: Passed and sent to the governor on a 57-0 vote a bill (AB 2815) by Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland (R-Granada Hills) to require victims to be notified of the results of HIV tests of convicted sex offenders if they request that information.

* Illegal Aliens: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 72-0 vote a resolution (AJR 46) by Assemblyman Richard L. Mountjoy (R-Arcadia) asking the President and Congress to negotiate agreements to require illegal immigrants convicted of felonies in the United States to serve their full prison sentences in their native countries.

Committee Action

* Concealable Weapons: The Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (AB 132X) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to give law enforcement officials the choice of charging a person with a felony or a misdemeanor for illegally carrying a concealed weapon. A 12-2 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

* Prisoner Rights: The Public Safety Committee approved a bill (SB 1260) by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to repeal the “prison inmate bill of rights� and replace it with new disciplinary standards. The legislation is supported by Gov. Pete Wilson. A 5-1 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

* Northridge Earthquake: The Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill (SB 561) by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) to allow victims of the Northridge earthquake to take a state income tax deduction for uninsured property losses exceeding $100. A 7-3 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Family Day Care: Passed on a 29-8 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 243) by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) to require family day care licensees to have current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid procedures.

* School Boards: Rejected on a 23-5 vote a bill (AB 3547) by Assemblyman Thomas M. Hannigan (D-Fairfield) to permit local school board members to be paid even if they do not attend board meetings.

Committee Action

* Gun Violence: The Appropriations Committee approved a bill (SB 36X) by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to suspend for five years the driver’s license of any minor who commits a public offense involving a firearm. A 7-1 vote sent the bill to the Senate floor.

* Sex Offenders: The Business and Professions Committee approved a bill (AB 2956) by Assemblywoman Valerie Brown (D-Sonoma) to prohibit child abusers and mentally disordered sex offenders from becoming state-licensed marriage, family and child counselors. An 11-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.