BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1015
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 13, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                  AB 1015 (Torlakson) - As Amended:  April 28, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Public  
          SafetyVote:  7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill makes it a misdemeanor to sell or furnish nitrous  
          oxide to a person under the age of 18. In addition, this bill  
          provides for a one-year suspension of a business license for a  
          repeat violation of furnishing nitrous oxide to a minor.

           FISCAL EFFECT 
           
          Minor nonreimbursable local law enforcement and incarceration  
          costs, offset to a degree by increased fine revenue. 

           COMMENTS 

          1)Rationale  . The author's intent is to reduce the sale to minors  
            of nitrous oxide, an inhalant also known as laughing gas that  
            is widely used in dental offices, which is also available for  
            purchase as a whipping agent for whipped cream. 

            Currently, possession of nitrous oxide, with the intent to  
            ingest for intoxication, is a misdemeanor, but there is no  
            explicit prohibition against the sale of the substance to  
            minors.  

            According to the author, "Young people looking for a quick and  
            cheap high 'sniff' or 'huff' the fumes and vapors of many  
            common household and commercial products, the most common of  
            which is nitrous oxide or 'laughing gas'. Unfortunately, many  
            youth who use inhalants fail to realize that even a single  
            session of repeated inhalant abuse can lead to permanent brain  
            damage or death."









                                                                  AB 1015
                                                                  Page  2

           2)Support  . This bill is co-sponsored by L.A. Mayor Antonio  
            Villaraigosa, the City Attorney's Office, and the L.A. Unified  
            School District. 

           

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081