LANCASTER -- Husband-and-wife state legislators George and Sharon Runner are proposing an anti- gang initiative to increase penalties for gang-related convictions and allocate about $1 billion annually to public safety, including some new funding.

The initiative would add 10 years to sentences of gang members convicted of violent felonies, enhance penalties for people who provide contraband to gang members in prison and require gang offenders to register with local law enforcement each year for five years after conviction or release from custody.

Backers need to collect 433,971 signatures by April to qualify the proposal for the November 2008 ballot.

-- Daily News