Bill Would Limit Public Funds for Judgments Against Officials

The Assembly has passed legislation prohibiting the use of public funds to pay judgments against elected officials who are sued for trying to influence the outcome of judicial proceedings.

A 47-8 vote sent the bill (AB 2467) by Assemblywoman Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) to the Senate.

The measure stems from $1.2 million in damages that Los Angeles County was ordered to pay last year as a result of charges that Supervisor Mike Antonovich tried to influence the outcome of a lawsuit by making a telephone call to a judge in charge of a case. The county has appealed the decision.

The underlying lawsuit involved a dispute between two small businessmen, one of whom was an Antonovich campaign contributor.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Child Molesters: Passed and sent to the governor on a 57-0 vote a bill (AB 1082) by Assemblyman Dean Andal (R-Stockton) prohibiting child molesters from obtaining custody of children conceived through their illicit conduct.

* Television Violence: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 58-1 vote a resolution (AJR 86) by Assemblywoman Diane Martinez (D-Rosemead) requesting that the Federal Communications Commission regulate the amount of television violence seen by California children as a condition of station license renewal.

Committee Action

* Unmarried Domestic Partners: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (AB 2810) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) allowing unmarried male and female domestic partners to register their relationships with the secretary of state to obtain certain legal rights enjoyed by married couples. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

* Marriage Licenses: The Judiciary Committee also approved a bill (AB 3310) by Assemblywoman Martinez requiring all couples applying for marriage licenses to receive a brochure detailing the legal rights and responsibilities of the marriage contract. A 10-3 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

* Driver’s Licenses: The Transportation Committee approved a bill (AB 79X) by Assemblyman Robert Frazee (R-Carlsbad) calling for an automatic six-month driver’s license suspension for those convicted of any drug-related criminal offense. A 12-2 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Drive-By Shootings: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 29-3 vote a bill (SB 21X) by Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino) extending the death penalty to those convicted of first-degree murder during drive-by shootings.

Committee Action

* Imitation Guns: The Education Committee approved a bill (SB 1645) by Sen. Gary Hart (D-Santa Barbara) that adds possession of an imitation firearm on a public school campus to the list of acts for which a student can be expelled or suspended. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

* Secretary of State: The Constitutional Amendments Committee approved legislation (SCA 35) by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) making the secretary of state’s office nonpartisan. A 3-0 vote sent the measure to the Senate floor.