A Grass Valley lawmaker's bill to limit police pursuits was rejected Tuesday by a state Senate committee. But two related bills made it over the legislative hurdle, with the goal of increasing penalties for drivers who flee authorities.

Senate Bill 718, also known as Kristie's Law, was written by Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley. It failed on a 4-1 vote by the Senate Committee on Public Safety in Sacramento..

"I'm disappointed by the lack of support my bill received," Aanestad said in a written statement. "My bill would have actually saved lives, and I guess that idea goes too far for this committee."

Named after Kristie Priano, a 15-year old who was killed during a police pursuit in 2002, the bill would have allowed pursuits only when an officer had a reasonable belief that the suspect had committed or tried to commit a violent felony, such as murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery or rape.

According to the bill, "pursuits for misdemeanor offenses, traffic or civil infractions (would have been) prohibited."

This was the second time a similar bill introduced by Aanestad has failed, despite his meetings with law enforcement organizations to get their approval. The legislation has been granted a "reconsideration vote" next week in the same committee, which the senator plans to use.

Odds are slim that the bill will pass on its second trip before the committee, but Aanestad plans to try again in 2006, as well.

"The chances of it (passing at the reconsideration vote) are slim to none," spokesman Bill Bird said. "The bill will be re-introduced next year. There is also language in 718 that might be re-introduced into another (existing) bill this year."

The chances of that happening are also slim, Bird said.

Although Aanestad's bill seems ill-fated this year, two other bills advanced Tuesday with the intention of making sentences harsher for suspects who flee.

State Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, was originally a co-author of the Kristie's Law bill, but later took her name off. Her bill, SB 719, which was passed 6-0 Tuesday, would increase penalties for pursuit suspects and provide more pursuit training for law enforcement.

It also would promote a statewide program to educate drivers about the stiffer criminal penalties. Chase suspects - not police officers - would be liable for other injuries or deaths.

"We thought we had a deal with law enforcement, and they turned around and sided with Romero," Bird said. "Her bill is a good one, and Sam supports it - it just won't save more lives, and it wouldn't have saved Kristie."

Romero's bill will be heard next at the State Senate Appropriation Committee.

Another bill, by Sen. Bob Margett, R-Arcadia, would also boost penalties for fleeing suspects and was passed 5-0 by the committee.

<I>The Associated Press contributed to this story.</I>