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Posted on 09/01/2005 7:03:00 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Bills helping smokers quit their habit, cracking down on drunken drivers and aiding homeowners who lose their houses in fires or other natural disasters cleared legislative hurdles Thursday.
DRUNKEN DRIVING: The Assembly approved a bill that would let law enforcement officers impound the vehicle of a suspected drunken driver, if that driver had a previous conviction for driving under the influence. The bill, by Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, was approved on a 55-13 vote and sent to the governor.
Opponents said the bill went too far in fighting drunken driving by seizing property before a case went to court.
"This is a very slippery slope, confiscating property without conviction," said Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City.
But supporters said it would take the drunken driver's weapon away from him before he hurt or killed innocent people.
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HOMEOWNERS: Insurance companies would be required to pay living expenses for two years instead of one for homeowners who lose their houses in fires or other natural disasters under a bill approved the Assembly.
The bill, by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, was prompted by complaints following the Southern California wildfires in 2003 that scorched 750,000 acres and destroyed 3,600 homes.
Many victims had "horror stories about how their insurance companies reacted when they tried to make claims," said Assemblyman Jay La Suer, R-La Mesa.
The bill also directs the insurance commissioner to recommend insurance brokers take classes on estimating replacement value of homes and in proper methods of explaining coverage levels to customers.
The 43-19 vote sends the bill back to the Senate for a vote on Assembly amendments.
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STOP SMOKING: The Assembly also approved a bill by Sen. Debra Ortiz, D-Sacramento, that would require health insurance plans that cover prescriptions to also include coverage for programs to help people stop smoking.
A 42-29 vote sent the measure back to the Senate for a vote on Assembly amendments.
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WELFARE: The Senate approved a bill by Assemblywoman Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, that would allow some low-income people convicted of drug crimes to qualify for benefits under the CalWORKS welfare program if they've completed, are enrolled in or on the waiting list for a drug-treatment program.
Federal law bars people convicted of drug-related felonies from receiving welfare benefits unless their state legislature votes to allow the benefits.
Sen. Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata, said Bass' bill would mainly help single mothers "who made a mistake and are paying for it. The bill would not cover people convicted of manufacturing or selling illegal drugs.
A 22-15 vote sent the measure to the governor.
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FOOD STAMPS: A bill removing a state requirement that applicants for food stamps submit to fingerprinting was approved by the Assembly and sent to the governor.
The bill's author, Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, said California has the lowest participation rate of any state in the food stamp program, largely because of the barriers that the fingerprinting requirement imposes. Chu also argued that a recent report from the state auditor shows that the requirement is not an effective means of preventing fraud in the program.
A 43-32 vote approved Senate amendments, sending the measure to the governor.
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PUPPIES: The Assembly approved a bill by Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, that would make it a misdemeanor to sell a puppy that was younger than 8 weeks old.
Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Sherman Oaks, said the bill would help stop puppy mills from Mexico from selling diseased dogs in California.
Before a puppy is 8 weeks old, it is dependent on its mother for nutrients and important immunities that keep it healthy. Puppies that are sold when they are too young are more susceptible to diseases, Levine said.
The bill allows an exception for sales of younger pups if a veterinarian signed off on it. It also targets sellers, not buyers, who may not know the exact date of the puppy's birth.
"These aren't the puppies being sold in front of a store," he said. "This is someone who is importing 50, 60 or 100 puppies in a container ... coming in from Mexico. We're talking about a big business."
Assemblyman Todd Spitzer said making this a crime would lead to a waste of police and courtroom resources and could ensnare people who didn't know they were breaking any law.
"In some counties, we have some very zealous animal control officers who will pursue these cases and (end up) referring them to the district attorney," he said.
A 45-29 vote sent the bill back to the Senate for a vote on Assembly amendments.
Since when is getting fingerprinted to recieve a handout a "barrier"?
I like puppies.
It was a lot closer vote than some..
watch the number of folks taking her up on her "generosity" leap thru the ceiling
Everything that allows for a positive identification of a Democrat ward of the state is somehow disenfranchising. Might catch a felon or two, and we can't have that.
I hear so many democrats, mostly state ones from New York and Massachusetts, say that. I don't get it. First they support these huge costly welfare programs, then get upset when people don't become dependent on them.
Our next cat will be a dog, if wifey has her way.
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Good. Dogs fetch ducks, cats fetch sparrows.
I don't have ducks, I have squirrels.
The cats used to work overtime to keep the bird population down, now they're all older kits.
I need a falcon. :)
Need a falcon? Naaaah.. You need a chihuahua. Squirrels piss her off to no end. They know she means it.
Personally I think it should be a crime to sell ANY cat or dog. That would quickly put an end to breeding for profit, puppy mills, euthanasia of millions of healthy pets every year, and greatly reduce the huge public expense involved in dealing with the problem of pet overpopulation, and public health problems (like rabies) associated with stray/dumped pets and their offspring -- while greedy heartless breeders rake in the cash.
I know several dog breeders in this state and they carefully breed, keep and sell their puppies. I also know several brokers who are duely diligent in their profession.
A crime to sell an animal? You sicken me. Breeding for profit and benefit of a breed and humanity is capitalism and responsibility of every animal loving citizen in this great nation.
Rabies is spread by wild animals and birds too. Wanna outlaw them as well?
And furthermore, I feel no guilt about putting to sleep our family pet that bit my son in the face TWICE!
.08 or less is a HUGE money maker for states and municipalities. It really has nothing to do with safety.
so they are finally admitting that raising taxes through the roof on cigarettes and banning smoking in private businesses has not accomplished their goal of determining they control your life has failed? ROFL!!!!!!!!
ping-a-roo
Time to start warming up that VETO Pen, Arnie.
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