Fuller bill protecting children clears hurdle

Dana Culhane
Special to the Sun

Legislation by Assemblymember Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, to protect children from a parent or guardian who is using an illegal hallucinogen passed the State Senate Public Safety Committee yesterday, on yet another overwhelmingly bipartisan vote.

Assembly Bill 2410, authored by Fuller and co-authored by Sen. Dean Florez, D-Bakersfield, was introduced in response to the local case of Angel Vidal Mendoza, Sr. In May 2009, Mendoza was arrested under suspicion of biting his 4-year-old son’s eyeballs while being under the influence of PCP. In prior criminal case in 2006, he had been charged with being under the influence of PCP but plead no contest to child endangerment charges. Unfortunately, he was able to regain custody of his son after his arrest, putting his son at risk of future injury.

Fuller’s legislation will give local law enforcement and child protective services the tools they need to respond to cases where a parent used a hallucinogen like meth, cocaine or PCP in the same way they would respond to the use of a narcotic. Under the measure, they would be empowered to shelter children from a parent or guardian who is under the influence of a hallucinogen and in imminent danger in their care.

“No child should ever have to suffer like Angel Mendoza, Jr. has had to suffer, the result of a senseless attack by an irresponsible parent who was abusing a dangerous hallucinogen,” said Fuller. “My legislation will ensure that local law enforcement can step in when they see a case like the Mendoza case and protect our kids from an out-of-control parent whose self-destructive actions threaten both themselves and their families.”

The measure now goes to the State Senate floor for consideration.

Assemblymember Fuller represents the 32nd Assembly District, which includes Bakersfield, Ridgecrest, Tehachapi, Taft, Kern River Valley and the Frazier Mountain communities.