Wednesday, 16 February 2000
http://www.azstarnet.com/public/dnews/LX8131.html
By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
PHOENIX - A Senate panel approved new restrictions on the use
of laser pointers to help protect law enforcement officers.
Without dissent, the Senate Judiciary Committee agreed yesterday
to make it a crime to knowingly aim a laser pointer at a peace
officer. Violations would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to
six months in county jail and a $2,500 fine.
Rep. Barry Wong, R-Phoenix, said police officers are put in fear
of their lives when they see a red dot on their uniforms.
``They can't distinguish between a red light coming from a pointer
and a red light coming from a gun sight,'' he said. Wong also
said that pilots of low-flying police helicopters can be temporarily
blinded by someone with a laser pointer.
The measure, HB 2097, already has been approved by the House and
now goes to the full Senate.
Tax breaks for defense contractors
The House of Representatives gave preliminary approval yesterday
to continue the special tax breaks now given to defense contractors.
The measure, HB 2326, reauthorizes the program first approved
by lawmakers in 1992 to help Arizona weather defense cutbacks
after the end of the Cold War.
Eligible companies are entitled to tax credits equal to $7,500
for each job created. The legislation also provides corporate
income tax credits based on the number of new jobs created and
allows businesses to write off equipment purchases in half the
time, effectively reducing their net income for tax purposes.
Companies must have at least 200 full-time workers in Arizona
and defense contracts totaling at least $5 million a year to get
the tax breaks.
The bill will go to the Senate after a final roll-call vote.
Teaching kids to shun guns
State lawmakers voted yesterday to require schools to tell
youngsters to avoid firearms.
The 24-18 vote by the House was on a compromise to a plan first
offered by Rep. Debra Brimhall, R-Snowflake, to require schools
to provide ``training in the safe handling and use of bows or
firearms.'' Brimhall also wanted schools to instruct students
on their rights under the Second Amendment.
Brimhall said she is promoting gun safety. But Rep. Linda Gray,
R-Phoenix, who offered the compromise, said nothing that extensive
is necessary.
``Stop, don't touch, leave the area, tell an adult'' is all that
is needed, Gray said. ``That's what small children, kindergarten
through sixth grade, should be taught.''
Dorm room visits still OK
University students will remain free to visit one anothers'
rooms.
The House refused yesterday to approve legislation to ban opposite-sex
visitors in university dorm rooms.
Lawmakers also defeated a watered-down version offered by Rep.
Jean McGrath, R-Glendale, that simply would have required universities
to offer single-sex floors in their dorms.
McGrath has been a foe of allowing mixed-sex dormitories where
men and women can mix at all hours. ``We have created at atmosphere
that is not conducive to learning,'' she said.
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