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January 11, 2006
Death Penalty Bill Advances
Dear FCL Supporter,
On January 10, 2006, legislation to require a temporary suspension of executions cleared its first legislative hurdle.
Following a lively debate, Assembly Bill 1121, by Assembly Members Paul Koretz (D-Hollywood) and Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee by a vote of four to two, with one abstention.
AB 1121 temporarily suspends executions until the bipartisan California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice examines the innocence question and makes recommended reforms to the Legislature. If the Legislature fails to implement reforms, executions may resume on January 1, 2009.
For more information on AB 1121, refer to "Focus on Innocence: A Death Penalty Bill Everyone Can Support, FCL Newsletter, Sept./Oct. AB 1121 is co-sponsored by FCL, the American Civil Liberties Union, Californians for a Moratorium on Executions and the Conference of Delegates of the California Bar Association.
The Public Safety Committee also passed Assembly Bill 851 by a vote of six to one. AB 851 (also by Paul Koretz) would make it easier for the wrongfully convicted to have their criminal records expunged and to obtain compensation from the state when wrongful convictions are overturned.
Both bills now move to Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Votes - AB 1121
Aye: Dymally, Goldberg, Hancock, Leno
No: LaSuer, Spitzer
Abstain: Cohn
Votes - AB 851
Aye: Cohn, Dymally, Goldberg, Hancock, Leno, Spitzer
No: LaSuer
Sincerely yours,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
http://www.fclca.org
E-mail: JimL@fclca.org
Phone: (916) 443-3734
Fax: (916) 448-6109
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