San Dimas : Factory Regulation Bill

A bill to more stringently regulate factories that use hazardous materials if they are near schools, hospitals or convalescent homes reached the state Senate floor Wednesday, where it faces stiff opposition from lobbyists representing industry.

AB 3205 was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee without a vote because it did not involve any new expenditures. The bill, by Assemblywoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) would provide air pollution control districts the authority to revoke a plant’s operating permit, if necessary, to abate a potential threat to nearby schoolchildren.

The bill was introduced in response to incidents such as an acetic acid release earlier this year that caused 100 children to become ill at Arma J. Shull Elementary School in San Dimas.

The California Manufacturers’ Assn. and the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance have taken positions opposing the bill. The two industry groups were unable to persuade Waters’ staff to remove provisions enabling pollution officials to close a plant if a potential health threat could not be mitigated.

The bill has received the support of several health, environmental and education groups, including the League of California Cities, the California Fire Chiefs Assn., the American Lung Assn. and the California Parent Teacher Assn., Waters aide Stan Diorio said.

The bill must be passed by both houses of the Legislature by Aug. 31 to be signed into law this year.