CDCAN
CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK
DISABILITY RIGHTS NEWS REPORT
#063-2006 June 27, 2006 - Tuesday late afternoon
Advocacy Without Borders:
Connecting people
with disabilities &
seniors to rights
and unified action
IN MEMORY OF WARREN A. MATTINGLY WHO PASSED AWAY MAY 24
1225
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Street Suite
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Breaking News:
ASSISTED SUICIDE FAILS TO
PASS SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
SACRAMENTO - The State Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Sen. Joe
Dunn (Democrat - Santa Ana, 34th District), failed to pass by a vote of
1-2, AB 651 by Assemblymember Patty Berg (Democrat - Eureka, 1st
District) that would permit doctors to prescribe medications to persons
who are diagnosed with a terminal illness and 6 months or less to live
to hasten their death. The bill, titled the "Compassionate Choices
Act" is co-authored by Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (Democrat - Van
Nuys, 40th District).
Dunn said he did not know how he was going to vote when he gaveled the
hearing to order and wanted to listen to the testimony on the
perspective of "broader public policy". He cited the previous
informational hearing on the bio-ethics of physician assisted suicide
and the testimony of several persons, including Dr. Rich, who was in
support of the legislation. Dunn expressed reservations about the
"power of money" that often drives public policy that in the case of AB
651, could result in broadening the bill and then announced his
opposition.
Opponents and Supporters Pack Hearing Room
Each side had 4 persons each
who provided the
primary testimony in support and opposition. Each side had over 30
persons each testifying in favor and against the bill.
Supporters of the bill say it would put in place "death with dignity"
similar to a law in Oregon passed by voters there over 8 years ago and
would give Californians facing terminal illness with a right to privacy
and choice, . Supporters include several senior advocacy
organizations, including Congress of California Seniors, Gray Panthers,
Older Womens League and some disability advocates and groups.
Opponents said the bill would legalize assisted suicide that takes away
individual choice and rights for most Californians and puts people with
disabilities and other vulnerable people on the "slippery slope" that
will result in denial of needed healthcare. Opponents included
numerous disability rights and advocacy groups across the state, some
religious affiliated organizations including Catholics for the Common
Good, , the California Medical Association, LULAC, Western Service
Workers Association, Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund,
Californians for Disability Rights Inc., and California Foundation for
Independent Living Centers, Freed Center for Independent Living, Dale
MacIntosh Center, Not Dead Yet and other groups and organizations.
Berg and Levine Previously Authored AB 654
* Berg and Levine previously authored AB 654 which passed last year out
of the Assembly Judiciary and Appropriations Committee but died on the
Assembly floor without a vote.
* Berg and Levine on June 6, 2005 amended the contents of AB 654 into
AB 651 (deleting the original provisions that was on a different
subject). AB 651 - in a different form - passed the Assembly and waited
for hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee before the provisions of
AB 654 was amended into it (a common process that is referred to as
"gut and amend" - removing the previous version of the bill, and
replacing it with new provisions).
* In 1992, California voters
rejected a ballot measure
that proposed a broader law regarding lethal injections for persons
with terminal illnesses.
* In 1994 the voters of Oregon approved a new
state law titled "Death With Dignity Act".
* In 1999 then Assemblymmber Dion Aroner (Democrat - Berkeley) authored
AB 1592 which mirrored the Oregon law, passed out of both Assembly
Judiciary and Appropriations Committee, but was held on the Assembly
Floor and died there.
CDCAN VOTE RECORD REPORT
Senate Judiciary Committee
5 members total
Democrats (3): Sen.
Joe Dunn, Chair (Democrat - Santa Ana, 34th District), Martha Escutia (Democrat - Whittier, 30th District) and Sheila
Kuehl (Democrat - Santa Monica, 23rd District)
Republicans (2): Sen.
Bill Morrow, Vice Chair (Republican - Oceanside, 38th District), Tom Harman (Republican - Huntington Beach, 35th District)
Bill: AB 651 -
Compassionate Choices Act
Action 06/27/06: FAILS passage out of
committee 1-2, with amendments.
Voting YES:
Democrats (1): Kuehl
Republicans: (0): -none-
Voting NO
Democrats (1): Dunn
Republicans (1): Harman
Not Voting, Not Present or Abstain
Democrats (1): Escutia
Republicans (1): Morrow
CDCAN
Capitol
News Reports and Alerts
These CDCAN Reports are
partially funded by a small grant from the USC UCEDD, Grant #90DD0540
from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. The opinions
expressed or content in these reports do not necessarily reflect the
views or opinions of the USC UCEDD.
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MANY THANKS to Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA,
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