Governor Issued a proclamation designating the week...

Governor Issued a proclamation designating the week of March 3 as Women’s History Week.

Appointed Warren D. Noteware of Stockton to the state Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. A Republican, Noteware replaces former astronaut Russell L. Schweickart of Sacramento, whose term expired. The job pays $68,355 a year and requires Senate confirmation.

Assembly Committee Action:

A bill to ease income tax disclosure requirements for firms bidding on lottery supply contracts and make it a misdemeanor to sell state lottery tickets to minors was approved by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. A 9-3 vote sent the bill, AB 2 by Assemblyman Richard Alatorre (D-Los Angeles), to the Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. A similar measure already has passed the Senate.

Bills Introduced:

Gang Violence: AB 1265 by Assemblyman Curtis R. Tucker (D-Inglewood) would appropriate $8 million to the Los Angeles County Gang Violence Response Program.

Senate Floor Action:

Approved and sent to the governor on a 34-2 vote a bill that would increase penalties for abuse of nursing home patients and increase Medi-Cal payments to nursing homes for higher staff salaries. The legislation (AB 180) by Assemblyman Phillip Isenberg (D-Sacramento) is identical to another bill (SB 53) by Sen. Henry J. Mello (D-Santa Cruz) that also was sent to the governor, who is expected to sign them at a special ceremony today. They were written so that both must be signed to become law, a concession to pride of authorship by the two legislators.

Bills Introduced:

Taxes: SCA 19 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) would prohibit the taxing of food, medicine, health care and Social Security benefits. This constitutional amendment would have to be approved by the electorate and is in response to a report from the governor’s Tax Reform Advisory Commission that called for expanding application of the sales and personal income taxes.

Death Penalty: SB 770 by Sen. Ken Maddy (R-Fresno) would enact the Death Penalty Restoration Act and overturn some state Supreme Court decisions that have prevented the imposition of capital punishment. It is supported by the governor.

Spray Cans: SB 710 by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) would impose a 1% sales tax on aerosol paint containers, with the proceeds allocated to local governments to clean up or repair property that has been defaced by graffiti.

--Compiled by Jerry Gillam, Times Staff Writer