Governor Signs Bill for Reimbursing County Highway Outlays

Gov. George Deukmejian on Wednesday signed a measure for reimbursement of local agencies by the state or federal government for capital outlays on major highway projects.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), was among 150 pieces of legislation the governor scrambled to sign or veto before the midnight deadline for such action.

The measure, last major bill pushed through the legislative session by the Orange County delegation, aims at helping the county deal with increasing demands on its freeway system.

To combat delays of proposed highway projects because of state or federal fund shortages, county agencies will be allowed to proceed with construction using county money, with the county to be reimbursed once state or federal funds become available.

Bergeson said Orange County has 20 major proposed highway projects, most of which are behind schedule.

‘We Will Save Dollars’

“This allows us to stretch our revenues much farther and get our projects on line,” she said. “We will save dollars by doing this because delays are very costly.”

The governor was also expected to sign another Bergeson bill late Wednesday that would ensure contractors who install emergency telephones on freeways top payment priority for their services.

Under existing law, a portion of vehicle registration fees that goes to the emergency call box system must first be used to pay for the lease of the facilities. The proposed law, which would take effect Jan. 1 if signed by the governor, stipulates that the contractors who install the boxes be paid before money is spent on the lease.

“This gives assurances that the county will repay the contractor for his work,” Bergeson said.

The legislation would apply only to Orange and San Diego counties.

Deukmejian approved a bill by Sen. Ed Royce (R-Anaheim) that would help 33 Vietnamese doctors who have been denied medical licenses by the state Board of Medical Quality Assurance.

Verification Committee

The doctors all graduated from the University of Saigon Medical School but were unable to bring their credentials when they fled South Vietnam after its fall in 1975.

Royce’s legislation would establish a faculty-in-exile committee to verify the medical education and training of the Vietnamese doctors.

“After coming here and completing all the California educational requirements, completing their internships in California hospitals, passing all exams for a medical license, they have been denied that opportunity by the (medical board) because the Communist government of Vietnam refuses to forward their diplomas,” Royce said.

Another Royce measure to provide respite care for handicapped foster children was signed by the governor, but he deleted the $120,000 appropriation for the program.

The bill was designed to allow foster parents who take care of handicapped children to have periodic and temporary breaks from their caretaking duties.

“I was disappointed, but at least we got the statute approved,” Royce said. “We’ll just have to go back and include the appropriation in the budget.”