Final Days for Bill Passage Approaching

A bill (AB 379) that would prohibit adults from smoking in cars when young children are present is pending in the Senate, and it "appears headed to the governor's desk," the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Under the legislation, a fine of up to $100 would be assessed to an adult who was smoking in a car if one of the passengers was a child in a child restraint system. Supporters say the measure is necessary to protect children from secondhand smoke.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has not taken a position on the bill (Lucas, San Francisco Chronicle, 8/25). However, some lawmakers have criticized the legislation as overly intrusive.

The Senate also approved a bill (AB 1677) that would allow any not-for-profit or health care agency to distribute condoms to prison inmates in an attempt to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS. The bill now moves to the governor for consideration (Rau, Los Angeles Times, 8/25).