ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFRIES INTRODUCES TWO FIRE BILLS ON FIRST DAY OF NEW SESSION
California Political Desk
December 02, 2008
Sacramento: On the first day of the new legislative session in Sacramento, Assemblymember Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) introduced two bills which will address critical public safety and fire issues facing much of California. These two bills are the first in a series of public safety, water, and transportation infrastructure bills which Assemblyman Jeffries plans to introduce throughout the new session.
The first bill, AB 27, relating to arson penalties, will maintain a mandatory higher sentence for aggravated arson, for instances in which arsonists trigger particularly large and expensive fires. The current enhanced penalties are due to expire this upcoming year. This bill will ensure that arsonists are held fully responsible for their actions and will serve as a deterrent to arson related crime. "With multiple fires occurring simultaneously in our state on a regular basis, we cannot afford to have penalties for aggravated arson just disappear at the end of next year," said Assemblyman Jeffries.
The second bill, AB 28, will exempt natural gas pumps run by public agencies and special districts from burdensome rules that make them cost prohibitive in many areas. Assemblyman Jeffries remarked that "water pumps powered by natural gas are far more reliable during fires and natural disasters than electrical pumps, and their impact on air quality is negligible. But heavy-handed rules passed by air pollution agencies have made it incredibly expensive and sometimes impossible for water districts to increase the reliability of our water supply during fires and disasters."
I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to represent Riverside and San Diego Counties in the Capitol, and I will continue to make public safety one of my top priorities in Sacramento. The state is in a fiscal mess," said Assemblyman Jeffries, "and I will continue to work to ensure taxpayers and employers don´t pay the price for over-spending in Sacramento. Both of these bills are examples of critical public safety issues that won´t cost any additional tax dollars. I believe there are many things we can do to increase public safety and improve our transportation and water infrastructure in ways that can actually save taxpayer dollars, and much of my focus will be on pursuing those goals."
The first bill, AB 27, relating to arson penalties, will maintain a mandatory higher sentence for aggravated arson, for instances in which arsonists trigger particularly large and expensive fires. The current enhanced penalties are due to expire this upcoming year. This bill will ensure that arsonists are held fully responsible for their actions and will serve as a deterrent to arson related crime. "With multiple fires occurring simultaneously in our state on a regular basis, we cannot afford to have penalties for aggravated arson just disappear at the end of next year," said Assemblyman Jeffries.
The second bill, AB 28, will exempt natural gas pumps run by public agencies and special districts from burdensome rules that make them cost prohibitive in many areas. Assemblyman Jeffries remarked that "water pumps powered by natural gas are far more reliable during fires and natural disasters than electrical pumps, and their impact on air quality is negligible. But heavy-handed rules passed by air pollution agencies have made it incredibly expensive and sometimes impossible for water districts to increase the reliability of our water supply during fires and disasters."
I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to represent Riverside and San Diego Counties in the Capitol, and I will continue to make public safety one of my top priorities in Sacramento. The state is in a fiscal mess," said Assemblyman Jeffries, "and I will continue to work to ensure taxpayers and employers don´t pay the price for over-spending in Sacramento. Both of these bills are examples of critical public safety issues that won´t cost any additional tax dollars. I believe there are many things we can do to increase public safety and improve our transportation and water infrastructure in ways that can actually save taxpayer dollars, and much of my focus will be on pursuing those goals."
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