Sacramento File : Assembly

Bills Introduced:

Surrogate Parents: AB 1707 by Assemblywoman Jean M. Moorhead (D-Citrus Heights) would set up a contracting process for childless couples who wish to use surrogate services, such as artificial insemination, in order to become parents.

Campaign Contributions: AB 1569 by Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) would impose limitations on campaign contributions and expenditures, and set up a partial public financing system. A similar measure is pending in the Senate. The governor last year vetoed legislation to do the same thing.

Dogs and Cats: AB 1628 by Assemblyman Norm Waters (D-Plymouth) would allow a state income tax credit of up to $40 for spaying or neutering dogs or cats of persons who earn $25,000 a year or less.

Corporal Punishment: AB 1617 by Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) would prohibit corporal punishment in public and private schools.

Health Studios: AB 1616 by Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) would toughen state requirements for health studio contracts in an effort to protect customers from losing money paid for services that are not received.

Senate Bills Introduced: Public Utilities: SB 994 by Sen. Henry J. Mello (D-Watsonville) would prohibit public utilities from applying for rate increases more than once a year.

Farm Worker Housing: SB 938 by Sen. Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) would appropriate $60 million for loans to private and public owners of farm labor camps to rehabilitate housing facilities.

Miscellany Repealing Sexist Laws: A press statement distributed by the office of Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) said she had introduced legislation (AB 1770) repealing several outmoded and “sexist” laws. As an example, it pointed to a 1941 statute allowing the sale of liquor at the UC Berkeley faculty club so long as club membership is “limited to male American citizens over the age of 21 years.”