A controversial bill to ban spanking in California took a dramatic turn Thursday at the state Capitol, NBC11's Mike Luery reported.

The assembly's second-ranking Democrat, Sally Lieber, entered the Capitol Thursday to deliver her anticipated no-spanking bill.

The bill originally would have banned parents from spanking kids under the age of 3 years old, but the Democrats were ridiculed in editorials and comedy shows, Luery reported.

Now, the bill does not use the word spanking.

The latest version of the bill outlaws the use of a stick, rod or belt to hit a child, striking a child with a closed fist, and striking a child under the age of 3 years old on the face or hand.

"It does not ban spanking," Lieber said. "I personally am very passionate about banning all physical abuse, but the votes are simply not there."

Although there may be broader support for the new toddler protection bill, critics said it takes away parental rights.

"My mom needed a stick to earn our respect to set us straight. So, this is still an anti-spanking bill, combined with some other things about abuses, but she still has a crazy bill that is making a lot of parents mad," said Randy Thomasson of the Campaign for Children and Families.

Lieber's toddler protection bill heads next to the Assembly's public safety commission for hearings in late March.