Film Monitoring Bill Advances

A controversial bill that would stop the state from charging movie companies for off-duty park rangers and other public employees who monitor filming on state property has cleared one legislative hurdle.

The Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization approved the proposal and referred it to the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means. Parks account for half the filming on state lands and half of the filming on parkland is done in the Santa Monica Mountains District.

Critics have said the legislation will make it difficult for the financially strapped park district to provide off-duty rangers, which would add another major task for on-duty rangers. Environmentalists contend that supervision will not be as close as it was and the parks may be damaged as a result.