Jerry Boone: Mr. Chairman and Members, my name is Jerry Boone. I'm the First Vice-President of the California Federation of Women's Clubs. We represent 30,000 members and almost 500 clubs in this state. We're also affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs headquartered in Washington, D.C., with 10,000,000 members in forty countries and I wish I were getting paid. I'm a volunteer as are all of our members.

Since the mid 1960's, our State and National organizations have consistently supported and lobbied for legislation to require the use of a helmet to protect lives and to save taxpayers' dollars. We were extremely pleased when the required use of helmets while riding on a motorcycle became law. Our members have lost family and friends and seen countless others reduced to a vegatitative state when accidents where no helmet was worn. We have also seen those whose lives have been saved because they wore a helmet. When we originally heard that AB-244 Morrow was proposed we were not really concerned. We thought that statistics would speak for themselves. Obviously we were wrong.

Our concern was not only for the carnage that was created before the helmet law was passed, but also with the millions of dollars the lack of helmets will cost the government and consequently the taxpayers. And I don't know about you but my pocketbook is getting pretty thin. This is not a rights issue, this is a fiscal/life-saving issue.

On behalf of the California Federation and it's 30,000 members, and those members here with us today, we urge you to oppose and defeat AB-244 Morrow. Thank you.

Senator Kelley: Thank you very much. Next witness please.

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