BERKELEY – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday (Sept. 28) signed the Researcher Protection Act of 2008, instituting new penalties for those who target the homes and families of academic researchers, in particular those who use animals in their research.
The new law, which takes effect immediately, makes it a misdemeanor to trespass on the home property of an academic researcher "for the purpose of chilling, preventing the exercise of, or interfering with the researcher's academic freedom."
It also establishes a new misdemeanor offense for anyone who publishes personal information about a researcher, or his or her family, in order to encourage others to commit violent acts or threaten violence against them. The bill authorizes a researcher to seek a preliminary injunction against publishing such information.
In arguing for the legislation, Assembly Bill 2296, the university maintained that it would fill gaps in federal prosecution of animal rights extremists under the 2006 Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2008/09/29_research.shtmlOn edit, I just had to add that the Governator vetoed the "Paris Hilton Bill" that would have outlawed people driving with animals in their laps. Protect the researchers from inconvenience, screw the animals. Good one, Arnie, you idiot.