Trial begins in 2008 shooting of teen in unincorporated county area near Monrovia. http://goo.gl/Bu45E
- Brad Haugaard
“There has been a lot of confusion in recent years over when a woman should and shouldn’t begin receiving these screenings,” explained Assemblymember Portantino. “This measure cuts through that confusion and gives patients and doctors maximum flexibility. It’s good for the patient and in the long run, good for the insurance provider. Early detection helps save lives and certainly saves healthcare dollars.”
AB 137 also eliminates outdated guidelines to the Insurance Code that limits coverage for mammograms in younger women. Instead of basing the need for mammograms only on a woman’s age, AB 137 allows doctors to order diagnostic tests based on a more complete list of risk factors that are part of today’s medical science. The existing code requiring insurers to provide a baseline mammogram beginning at age 35, is now outdated. Many women who are at “high risk” for breast cancer often develop cancer in their 20’s and 30’s and should be screened at an earlier age. AB 137 will allow doctors more control in when to order this diagnostic test.
AB 137 now moves to the state Senate for consideration later this session.
~ Gold Line lobbies Federal Government for money. http://goo.gl/ycZY2
~ Monrovia's Green Dot is coming out this year with a prepaid AARP MasterCard. http://goo.gl/NfJ5E ~ There will be a three-session seminar on Financial Literacy & Fitness at the Monrovia Library, 11:30 to 1 p.m. on Jan. 31, Feb. 7, and Feb. 15. Bring a lunch. Details: http://goo.gl/wJXRT - Brad Haugaardintroduced AB 1527, a measure that will prohibit individuals from openly displaying unloaded rifles and shotguns in public. Portantino introduced the legislation at the urging of law enforcement as a follow up to last year’s successful AB 144, which banned openly carrying an unloaded handgun in public places.
In reaction to the enactment of AB 144, Open Carry Organizations across the State began hosting open carry events brandishing rifles and shotguns in place of the now illegal handguns. In at least once instance, they showed up at a police fundraiser wielding unloaded rifles.
“Last year, the state made it clear that this type of behavior had no place on Main Street, California,” said Assemblymember Portantino. “Unfortunately, the Open Carry community has decided to once again force our hand by escalating their unnecessary activities and entering our communities with AR-15s and other long guns. I had hoped cooler heads would have prevailed and this law wouldn’t be necessary, obviously that hasn’t been the case and I must once again take action to ensure the safety of our communities.”
AB 1527 builds on the newly enacted law authored by Portantino last year and provides a similar list of exemptions to enable safe transportation, lawful hunting, and use by law enforcement officials.
"The Brady Campaign supports AB 1527,” said Dr. Dallas Stout, President of the California Brady Campaign Chapters. "These public displays of shot guns, rifles, and live ammunition intimidate and scare people. This is not the kind of society Californians want to live in, and we support ending this dangerous practice."
AB 1527 currently awaits referral from the Assembly Rules committee and will likely be set for hearing in the Assembly Public Safety committee sometime in late March or early April.