California Senate Opposes Cost-Saving Medical Parole For Cop Killers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The California Senate has voted to outlaw compassionate release from prison for people convicted of killing police officers.

The Senate's 35-1 vote on Wednesday sends the measure to the Assembly.

California allows for the release of some dying inmates who are deemed not to pose a threat to public safety. The program is supposed to save the state money on expensive end-of-life care.

Democratic Sen. Cathleen Galgiani of Stockton says the so-called medical parole law was never intended to apply to people who killed police officers. But she says the risk remains because there was a period in the 1970s when California did not allow sentences of death or life without parole.

Critics include the American Civil Liberties Union, which says the Legislature shouldn't exempt specific offenses.