SACRAMENTO - State Sen. Gloria Romero, the Legislature's highest-ranking woman, signed on Monday as a co-author of Assembly Bill 654, which would make California the second state in the nation to adopt a "death with dignity" law.

Romero – a Democrat from Los Angeles who as majority leader holds the No. 2 post in the Legislature's upper house – joined a growing list of lawmakers who strongly support the measure by Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, and Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys.

"Having the backing of Senator Romero sends a strong message that legislative leaders understand the privacy issues and civil liberties at the heart of this bill," said Berg.

AB 654, the California Compassionate Choices Act, would allow a terminally ill adult of sound mind with less than six months to live to ask for and get life-ending medication. It is based on Oregon's landmark Death With Dignity Act, but California lawmakers have included additional safeguards and limitations on the measure.

The concept of aid-in-dying is supported by 70 percent of California voters, representing strong majorities of all political, religious and ethnic groups, according to a recent statewide Field Poll.

Levine said similar broad-based support is reflected in the list of co-authors.

"AB 654 is supported by a coalition of legislative leaders that represent California's diverse cultural backgrounds," he said.

Sen. Romero joins a list that include Sen. Sheila Kuehl, as well as Assembly members Karen Bass, Joe Canciamilla, Judy Chu, Mervyn Dymally, Jackie Goldberg, Paul Koretz, John Laird and Mark Leno.

AB 654 was approved earlier this month by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. It is awaiting a hearing of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and must clear several legislative hurdles before making it to the governor's desk.