BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2199
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2199 (Bonnie Lowenthal)
As Amended February 14, 2010
Majority vote
PUBLIC SAFETY 4-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Ammiano, Beall, Hill, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |Skinner | |Bradford, Charles |
| | | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| | | |Nava, Hall, Harkey, |
| | | |Miller, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Torrico |
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SUMMARY : Repeals a provision of law requiring the Department
of Mental Health (DMH), acting through the superintendent of the
Langly Porter Clinic, to plan, conduct, and cause to be
conducted scientific research into the causes and cures of
sexual deviation, including deviations conducive to sex crimes
against children, and the causes and cures of homosexuality, and
into methods of identifying potential sex offenders.
EXISTING LAW states that DMH, acting through the superintendent
of the Langley Porter Clinic, shall plan, conduct, and cause to
be conducted scientific research into the causes and cures of
sexual deviation, including deviations conducive to sex crimes
against children, and the causes and cures of homosexuality, and
into methods of identifying potential sex offenders.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, negligible savings to DMH, which does not currently
conduct research into the causes and cures of homosexuality.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "Our codes are constantly
updated, and the fact that this language has survived this long
is pretty amazing. The closest analogy to this code are race
restrictions on property deeds. It is not enough that we do not
enforce them, we need to blot them out to make it clear that
we're moving forward as a society, not backward. The code
section this bill seeks to repeal not only reflects misguided
and out-of-date science, it enshrines bigotry and false
AB 2199
Page 2
stereotypes in law."
Please see the policy committee for a full discussion of this
bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Gabriel Caswell / PUB. S. / (916)
319-3744
FN: 0003996