KMAX: News of the West

Tuesday August 24, 2004

Some of the legislation voted on Tuesday by the California Legislature, and bills signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:

^CAMPAIGN MONEY:

Political parties that donate to candidates in the last 16 days before an election would have to disclose the contribution within 24 hours. AB890, by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Sherman Oaks, was approved by the Senate 30-1 and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments.

^TIME SHARES:<

Consumer protections would be strengthened for the sale and marketing of vacation time-shares. AB2252, by Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-San Fernando, was approved by the Senate 30-1, sending it to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments.

^PHONES:<

Cellular telephone companies would have to obtain express written consent from customers to publish their phone numbers in a directory or directory database. The bill, AB1733 by Assemblywoman Sarah Reyes, D-Fresno, was approved by the Senate 25-6 and returned to the Assembly for a vote on Senate amendments.

^CHILDREN:<

Children under 14 years of age would be prohibited from using tanning salons without a doctor's prescription under a bill by Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael. The measure, AB2193, was approved by the Senate, 21-15, and returned to the Assembly for a vote on Senate amendments.

Pregnant women and children under 3-years old could not be vaccinated with a vaccine containing mercury, with some exception, under a bill by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills. It was approved by the Senate, 22-13, and sent back to the Assembly for a vote on Senate amendments.

^IRRADIATED FOODS:<

School districts serving irradiated foods to students would have to notify parents. AB1988, by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, was approved 21-16 in the Senate, sending it back to the Assembly for approval of amendments.

^SCHOOLS:<

High schools would be allowed to break themselves into smaller schools on the same campus without losing state funding. AB1841, by Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, D-Alameda, passed the Assembly 66-2 and goes to the governor.

^HOUSES:<

Cities and counties would be blocked from putting unreasonable restrictions on people who want to build second units behind their primary residence. AB2702, by Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, passed the Senate 25-5 and returns to the Assembly for a vote on Senate changes.

^SMOKING:<

People would not be allowed to smoke in cars in which a child is also riding in a child restraint seat. AB894, by Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh, D-South Gate, passed the Senate 21-13, and returns to the Assembly for a vote on Senate changes.

^CONSERVATION EASEMENTS:<

The public would have more information about major land sales for conservation easements. AB1701, by Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, was approved 30-6 by the Senate, sending it back to the Assembly for approval of amendments.

^PRISONS:<

The California Department of Corrections would have to greatly expand its system for vocational and other schooling for prison inmates, a plan aiming to reduce one of the nation's worst recidivism rates. SB1399, by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, passed the Assembly 41-22, and returns to the Senate for a vote on Assembly changes.

State prisons would ban use of tobacco as county jails do. AB384, by Assemblyman Tim Leslie, R-Tahoe City, passed the Senate 26-6 and returns to the Assembly for a vote on Senate changes.

^MEGAN'S LAW:<

Home addresses and other information about more than 55,000 California sex offenders would be available on the Internet before July 1, 2005. AB448, co-authored by Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, and Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, passed the Assembly 74-2 and goes to the governor.

^INHERITANCE:<

Children born from posthumous conception would have inheritance rights to their dead fathers' estates. AB1910, by Assemblyman Tom Harman, R-Huntington Beach, passed the Assembly 71-0 and goes to the governor.

^ENVIRONMENT:<

Hybrid vehicles could use freeway diamond lanes, regardless of the number of occupants. AB2628, by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, passed the Senate 29-7, and returns to the Assembly for a vote on Senate changes.

Cruise ships would be barred from burning trash within three miles of California's coastline. AB471, by Assemblyman Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, passed the Assembly 46-21 and goes to the governor.

The state would create a cabinet level Ocean Protection Council to coordinate ocean policy and a trust fund to do projects and make grants for ocean protection. SB1319, by Sen. John Burton, D-San Francisco, passed the Assembly 49-24 and returns to the Senate for agreement to Assembly changes.

Bottom trawling on the state's ocean waters would be prohibited. SB1459, by Sen. Dede Alpert, D-San Diego, passed the Assembly 47-33 and returns to the Senate for a vote on Assembly changes.

^URBAN BLIGHT:<

Property owners would not be able to borrow money against a home's value if a code enforcement violation is pending. SB1508, by Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, passed the Assembly 42-23, and returns to the Senate for a vote on Assembly changes.

^FERRETS:<

Allows owners of ferrets to apply to California Department of Fish and Game for an amnesty certification that allows the pets to be legally owned. SB89, by Sen. Dede Alpert, D-San Diego, passed the Assembly 48-11 and returns to the Senate for a vote on Assembly amendments.

Bills signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:

^MOTORCYCLES:<

Would allow motorcycle riders to keep their hands six inches above their shoulders while riding motorcycles with high handlebars. AB2884, by Assemblyman Jay La Suer, R-Mesa.

^THREATENED OFFICIALS:<

Judges, court commissioners, attorneys employed by the State Department of Justice, the State Public Defender, or a county district attorney or public defender are also eligible, along with police officers, for relocation expenses after facing threats to themselves or their families' safety. AB2905, by Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange.

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Read more about the bills at http://www.legislature.ca.gov

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