AssemblyBill Introductions:Drug Abuse: AB 485 by Assemblyman...

Assembly

Bill Introductions:

Drug Abuse: AB 485 by Assemblyman Steve Clute (D-Riverside) would require a comprehensive drug and alcohol abuse prevention course to be taught in grades K-12 at an estimated cost of $8.8 million a year.

Toll Roads: AB 491 by Assemblyman Nolan Frizzelle (R-Huntington Beach) would establish criteria under which counties could authorize construction and operation of toll roads by either counties or private enterprise.

Reagan: ACR 21 by Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) would recognize and commend the “illustrious public service record” of former President Ronald Reagan.

Senate

Bill Introductions:

Drunk Driving: SB 408 by Sen. Bill Leonard (R-Big Bear) would lower from .10% to .08% blood alcohol content the legal point at which a driver would be presumed to be under the influence of alcohol.

New University: SB 365 by Sen. William A. Craven (R-Oceanside) would authorize establishment of a new state university campus at San Marcos in northern San Diego County.

Local Mandates: SB 366 by Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim) would exempt a local agency or school district from continuing a previously funded state-mandated program if there is no money provided in the state budget for such purpose.

Environmental Education: SB 387 by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) would set up a pilot program in environmental education in Grades 7-9 in three school districts, probably including the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Miscellany

Child Care Programs: Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) and State Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig urged the Legislature to approve, and Gov. George Deukmejian to sign, a Roberti bill to continue 14 child-care programs that cost $330 million yearly. These programs, including the so-called latchkey program that provides after-school care for children of parents who both work, are scheduled to end June 30. “Child care is a fact of life today for working families,” Roberti said. “More than 50% of the work force today are women and most of those are working mothers.”

Parental Choice: Assemblyman Charles Bader (R-Pomona), a veteran member of the Education Committee, held a Capitol press conference to push for passage of a Honig-sponsored bill to give parents the right to choose which school their children will attend anywhere in the state in grades K-12. Certain restrictions would apply. For example, a transfer could be rejected if the racial and ethnic balance of the district was disrupted. Bader said the result of such legislation would be competition among schools leading to higher attendance, improved academic performance, and fewer behavioral problems.