Bill Would Deny Conjugal Visits to State Prison Inmates

Prison inmates would be denied conjugal visits and the state would save an estimated $3 million annually under legislation that has been introduced in the Assembly.

The author of the measure (AB 546), Assemblyman Dean Andal (R-Stockton), objects that violent criminals are allowed to spend up to 72 hours with their wives and children, unsupervised, in a cottage or trailer on prison grounds. He alleged that those visits are sometimes used to smuggle drugs and weapons into prisons.

Noting that California is facing an $8-billion budget deficit, Andal added, “There is no reason why taxpayers should pay millions of dollars on prisoner perks when jobs are being lost and difficult budgetary cuts are being made. How can we justify spending millions on this program while funding for education, counties and health programs is being slashed?”

California is one of eight U.S. states that allow unsupervised overnight family visits for state prison inmates, according to the Northern California lawmaker.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Immigrants and Refugees: Passed on a 67-0 vote and sent to the Senate a resolution (AJR 8) by Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) asking President Clinton and Congress to assume responsibility for the $1.5 billion annually that it costs California taxpayers to pay for immigrant and refugee services.

Bill Introductions

Hospital Violence: AB 508 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) would require all hospital emergency room and trauma treatment personnel to receive training in how to deal with violent patient behavior by Jan. 1, 1995, and on a continuing basis thereafter. This legislation was sparked by the recent shooting of three doctors at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

Homosexuals: AJR 11 by Assemblyman Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) asks President Clinton and Congress to enact legislation to prohibit homosexuals from serving in the U.S. military forces.

Gang Recruitment: AB 514 by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) would make it a felony for an adult to influence, through violence or coercion, a minor to become a street gang member. A minor who committed the same offense would be subject to a misdemeanor penalty.

School Classrooms: AB 527 by Assemblyman Willard Murray Jr. (D-Paramount) would ask voters to approve a $900-million bond issue for new school classrooms.

Welfare Fraud: AB 509 by Assemblyman B.T. Collins (R-Carmichael) would give a 10% reward to people who furnish information that leads to recapturing state welfare aid paid to families with dependent children who do not qualify for it.

SENATE

Bill Introductions

Drive-by Shootings: SB 310 by Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino) would ask voters to add drive-by shooting murders to the list of crimes that are subject to the death penalty.

Inspector General: SB 328 by Sen. Ken Maddy (R-Fresno) would create an independent Office of the Inspector General within the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency to investigate prison-related complaints.

Breast Cancer: SB 309 by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) would require school health instruction classes to include information on female breast health care and self-examination techniques.

Slate Mailers: SB 304 by Sen. Newton Russell (R-Glendale) would require slate mailers urging people to vote for a group of candidates to carry a specified disclaimer if they use the name of a political party that implies endorsement.

Capital Fact

The last log cabin courthouse in California, located in McCloud in Siskiyou County, was closed in 1988.