Assembly Committee Action:Automobile Insurance: The Assembly Finance...

Assembly Committee Action:

Automobile Insurance: The Assembly Finance and Insurance Committee rejected a bill (AB 230) by Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) to require a 50% reduction in automobile liability insurance rates to be financed by a limit in the amount of non-economic damages. A 10-2 vote was cast on the bill with 11 yes votes required for approval. Reconsideration was granted. Polanco also is circulating a proposed ballot initiative to accomplish the same goal.

Health Insurance: The Finance and Insurance Committee also rejected a bill (AB 2020) by Assemblyman Dan Hauser (D-Arcata) to establish a state health medical care insurance plan for all Californians to be partially financed by employer contributions and doubling the state cigarette tax. An 8-10 vote was cast on the bill with 11 yes votes required for approval. Hauser said he will seek reconsideration. Bill Introductions:

Earthquakes: AB 2792 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) would authorize a $250-million bond issue for loans to assist local agencies to strengthen unreinforced masonry apartment buildings to better withstand earthquakes.

Water Pollution: AB 2766 by Assemblyman Dan Hauser (D-Arcata) would make it a misdemeanor offense to dump any non-biodegradable material into the ocean within three miles of shore.

Lottery: AB 2767 by Assemblyman Bill Bradley (R-San Marcos) would permit schools to use state lottery proceeds for construction of school facilities.

Women: ACR 98 by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R-Santa Rosa) would designate March as Women’s History Month and urge celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8. Senate Floor Action:

AIDS: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-2 vote a bill (SB 1424) by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) to appropriate $7 million to provide AIDS information and counseling in family planning and drug treatment clinics and permit designation of the clinics as testing sites. Committee Action:

Fast Food: The Senate Health Committee approved a bill (SB 1460) by Sen. Barry Keene (D-Benicia) to require fast-food restaurants to disclose food ingredients and nutritional information to consumers. A 5-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Driver’s Licenses: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 1300) by Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights) to require a mandatory jail sentence for any person convicted of injuring another person while driving a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver’s license. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee. Bill Introductions:

Parental Leave: SB 1757 by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) would allow employees to take up to four months of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child or to care for a seriously ill child without fear of losing their jobs. The governor vetoed a similar bill last year.

Blind: SB 1748 by Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys) would appropriate $250,000 for a senior citizens’ center in the San Fernando Valley for the blind and partially sighted. Miscellany

Appointment: Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) said Gov. George Deukmejian’s appointment of Angie L. Papadakis of Rancho Palos Verdes to a second term on the state Board of Education will not be sent to the Senate floor for consideration. The Senate Rules Committee, headed by Roberti, on Wednesday rejected reconfirmation of Papadakis, who has been criticized for her opposition to legislation to continue bilingual education programs. After the committee hearing, Roberti had left open the possibility that Papadakis’ name still would go to the full Senate.