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Capitol Roundup: Some Bills Die Quietly, 2nd Chance for Juveniles



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(Sacramento, CA)
Thursday, August 16, 2012

When a high-profile bill dies quietly at the State Capitol, it never happens on the Senate or Assembly floor.  It happens in committee hearings - most frequently, the Appropriations Committee, which can kill a bill in mere seconds.  Hearings in each chamber dealt with all sorts of measures, and here are some of the bills that are done for the year:

  • A ban on certain gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers, such as pro sports tickets or spa treatments.
  • The expansion of a ban on guns with detachable ammunition magazines.
  • A bill that would allow sports betting in California.
  • And a measure that would let an employee take unpaid time off to treat extended family members as well as immediate family.

Many other bills escaped their committee votes, including a hotly-contested bill that would ban dog hunts of bears and bobcats and a measure that would allow voter registration on Election Day.

 

Juveniles Could Get Shot at Parole After Key Legislative Vote

 

A controversial bill that's been stuck for more than a year has squeaked out of the California Assembly.  The measure would give juveniles sentenced to life without parole the chance to request a parole hearing.

Six Democrats joined every Republican in opposing the bill … including GOP Assemblyman Donald Wagner:

Wagner: "This is breaking faith with every relative of a murdered victim who was told, don't worry, the killer will never see the light of day again."

Democrat Tom Ammiano disagrees:

Ammiano: "Over and over again, I see where where people are thrown away and left in the gutter because 'Once a criminal, always a criminal.'  What happened to the idea of redemption?"

The measure passed the Assembly Thursday by a single vote.  It faces one last vote in the Senate before it could head to Governor Jerry Brown.

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