Senate passes bills on condoms, weapon IDs
SACRAMENTO -- State senators on Thursday approved measures that would provide condoms to prison inmates, legalize the import of shoes made from kangaroo skin, require children to use car seats until they are 8 and require guns to stamp codes on ammunition.
The condom bill was vetoed by the governor last year. But supporters say they hope they have addressed the administration's concerns and are hopeful of a different outcome this year.
On a day when the Senate acted on 100 bills, one of the most heated debates occurred over requiring semiautomatic pistols to be equipped with technology that stamps a traceable code on bullet casings when fired.
The bill's author, Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), said the stamp would allow detectives to more easily develop leads when investigating shootings. About 45% of the 2,000 homicides in the state last year went unsolved, he said.
"This bill is about catching criminals and protecting public safety," said Sen. Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), who carried it in the Senate for Feuer.
The bill goes back to the Assembly for approval of amendments before heading to the governor. It would not take effect until 2010.
The measure passed on a 21-17 vote, with strong opposition from Republican lawmakers including Sen. Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), who cited a UC Davis study that recommended more testing to prove the technology.
"I don't think there is any proof that this microstamping will do anything for public safety," Cogdill said.
There was also a largely partisan split over legislation by Assemblyman Sandre Swanson (D-Alameda) that would require prison officials to allow nonprofit and public health agencies to distribute condoms and dental dams to prison inmates.
The bill was approved by a Senate vote of 21 to 18, with Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) arguing it is needed to address the heavy prevalence of HIV infections among prisoners.
"This is to help us fight this dreaded phenomenon," Ridley-Thomas told his colleagues.
However, Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster) said handing out condoms is sanctioning behavior prohibited in prison.
"It seems incredibly inconsistent for us to say that this behavior is not acceptable in prisons and then to provide devices to assist in that behavior," Runner said in an interview, adding it will provide "tools for rape."
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