Assembly OKs Drivers’ Traffic School Option

The Assembly has approved legislation that would leave it up to the motorist who is cited--and not the courts--as to whether to attend traffic school to keep a clear driving record.

A 42-19 vote sent the measure (AB 408) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to the Senate for further consideration.

Moore said her bill would enable motorists, even in instances where fines are imposed, to choose to attend traffic school and thus avoid establishing a conviction record that could lead to higher automobile insurance rates.

Opponents argued that the courts should retain the flexibility to decide case-by-case whether to allow traffic law violators the traffic school option.

GOVERNOR

Appointed William Hauck of Carmichael as a member of the Fair Political Practices Commission. A Democrat, Hauck, 50, replaces George Fenimore, whose term expired. He is executive vice president of Information for Public Affairs. The job pays $100 per meeting day.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Guns: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 66-5 vote a bill (AB 2029) by Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly (D-Sacramento) to make careless parents or other adult gun owners subject to prison terms if someone is killed or severely wounded by a child who gains access to a loaded firearm.

Veterans: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 74-1 vote a bill (AB 514) by Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Carson) to create a commission to advise the governor and the Legislature on establishment of a state veterans home in Southern California. The only such facility is in the Napa Valley near Yountville in Northern California.

Affordable Housing: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 55-13 vote a bill (AB 1785) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to create an affordable-housing task force to provide recommendations to the Legislature on restructuring state housing programs to obtain maximum federal funding aid.

Bounced Checks: Rejected on a 38-32 vote a bill (AB 938) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-S. San Francisco) to restrict bank fees charged consumers for bounced checks. Forty-one yes votes were required for approval.

Sports Officials: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 74-0 vote a bill (AB 925) by Assemblyman Tom Hannigan (D-Fairfield) to make it a specific crime to attack umpires, referees and other sports officials.

Committee Action

King Beating: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (AB 1114) by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) to allow victims of police brutality to sue law enforcement officers who abuse them and witnessing officers who fail to report the incident. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Capital Fact

The first state legislative session in 1849-50 was called “the Legislature of 1,000 drinks” because one member urged his colleagues to adjourn and enjoy that many drinks at his expense.