SACRAMENTO FILE

Assembly Bills Introduced:

Quick Courts: AB 2532 by Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando (R-San Pedro) would set up “quick courts” within the Superior Court system to handle simple civil cases that seek more than the $1,500 damage limit in small claims courts.

Kidnaping of Elderly: AB 2530 by Assemblyman Phillip D. Wyman (R-Tehachapi) would add one year to the state prison term for kidnaping anyone who is over 60, blind or disabled.

Senate Bills Introduced: Indirect Initiatives: SCA 24 and SB 1200 by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) would require the Legislature to consider and vote on a proposed initiative when half the signatures needed to qualify it for the ballot are collected. Proponents could either accept the lawmakers’ decision or continue their efforts to place the issue before the voters--if the indirect initiative method was chosen at the outset.

Child Care: SB 711 by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) would authorize a $100-million bond issue for low-interest loans to build and renovate child-care centers.

Miscellany Law Makes Democrat Appoint Republican to FPPC: Democratic State Controller Kenneth Cory has appointed Michael Montgomery, former state Republican Party chairman, to the Fair Political Practices Commission. Cory had to name a GOP representative because the law says that no more than three of the five members of the FPPC can be from the same political party. There already are three Democrats on the commission, which is the state’s campaign watchdog agency.

Speed Limit: Charles Ramorino of San Francisco, the new president of the California Trucking Assn., is in favor of increasing the speed limit to 65 m.p.h. for automobiles--but keeping it at 55 m.p.h. for trucks. At a breakfast meeting with reporters, Ramorino said: “Let them (cars) go a little faster. We want to stay at 55 m.p.h.” That’s the best speed for optimum efficiency of both equipment and truck drivers, according to the trucking group’s executive vice president, Tom Schumacher Jr.

Tax Amnesty: Delinquent taxpayers have only two days to come clean and salve their guilty consciences. California’s tax amnesty program that allows taxpayers to pay back taxes without a penalty ends at midnight Friday. After that, the state Franchise Tax Board will step up its enforcement program against delinquent accounts.