Governor

Signed into law a bill (SB 1002) by Sen. Robert Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach) providing that a person can be barred from renewing a driver’s license if he or she has failed to appear on a traffic citation or pay a court-ordered fine for operating a vehicle in violation of size, height or load restrictions, or with an open alcoholic beverage container in the vehicle. Signed into law a bill (AB 936) by Assemblywoman Teresa Hughes (D-Los Angeles) to prohibit telephone companies from selling lists of unlisted telephone numbers of residential subscribers. Assembly Floor Action: After-School Activities: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 44-25 vote a bill (AB 2246) by Hughes to set up a statewide pilot program to develop supervised after-school activities for students attending middle and junior high schools. Committee Action: Legislative Pay Raise: The Rules Committee approved a bill (SB 979) by Beverly to increase legislative pay from $40,816 to $44,898 a year after the 1990 general election. A 5-3 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. English Only: The Labor Committee approved a bill (SB 1454) by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) to prohibit private employers from requiring employees to speak only English on the job unless the rule can be justified by business necessity. An 8-1 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. Water Pollution: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 601) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to require regional water quality boards to levy minimum fines for violations of water pollution laws. A 6-2 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. Farm Workers: The Labor Committee approved a bill (SB 1341) by Hart to require the state to enforce field sanitation standards so field workers have access to drinking water, hand-washing facilities and toilets. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. Senate Floor Action: Solid Waste: Rejected on a 23-13 vote a bill (SB 1261) by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) to require local governments to prepare and implement master plans for recycling solid waste and safely disposing of hazardous household waste. The bill also would change the makeup of the state Solid Waste Management Board. The legislation required 27 votes or a two-thirds majority for passage. Reconsideration granted. Property Tax Disputes: Rejected on a 24-12 vote a constitutional amendment (SCA 6) by Sen. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) to allow local property taxpayers to go to court to resolve differences of opinion with respect to property values. The proposed amendment required 27 votes or a two-thirds majority for passage. Committee Action: Parental Leave: The Industrial Relations Committee approved a bill (AB 77) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to allow mothers or fathers to take up to four months of unpaid leave to care for sick, newborn or adopted children, seriously ill parents, or an elderly spouse, without fear of losing their jobs. A 6-2 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee. VDTs: The Industrial Relations Committee approved a bill (AB 955) by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to require video display terminals used in the workplace to meet certain design and ergonomical standards to ensure safe and healthful working conditions. A 5-3 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee. Drug Prisons: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 1717) by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to place a $740-million bond issue to build a new state prison and three regional jails for drug offenders on the 1990 election ballot. A 6-0 vote sent bill to the Bonded Indebtedness and Methods of Finance Committee. Drug Manufacturers: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (AB 1868) by Assemblyman Tim Leslie (R-Carmichael) to increase potential fines for convicted illegal drug manufacturers from $10,000 to $50,000. Some of the money would be used to clean up the drug laboratory sites. A 11-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.