The State : Assembly OKs Contract Bill

The Assembly, by a vote of 43 to 29, approved legislation requiring the state to award 20% of all state contracts to minorities and women. The measure by Assemblywoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) calls for awarding 15% of the dollar value of state contracts to minorities and 5% to women. The bill was part of a compromise that included placing $5.6 billion in bond measures on the ballot in 1988. Gov. George Deukmejian has agreed to sign the affirmative action measure, which has already passed the Senate. In a separate action, Deukmejian also signed four of the bond bills, officially placing a total of $2.1 billion in bond measures on the June ballot for highway improvements, school construction, veterans housing and earthquake safety.