Assembly

Committee Action:

Pap Smears: The Health Committee approved a bill (AB 32) by Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-Baldwin Park) to regulate the cervical cancer screening (Pap smear) industry. A 13-2 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. The governor vetoed a similar bill last year.

College Scholarships: The Education Committee approved a bill (AB 400) by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) to set up a $2-million college scholarship program for high school students who contribute their time as community service volunteers. A 10-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Farm Products: The Agriculture Committee approved a bill (AB 1212) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos) to develop a “California grown” seal or logo for growers and processors to use voluntarily as a marketing tool to increase consumer awareness of state farm products. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Junk Fax Advertisements: The Utilities and Public Commerce Committee approved a bill (AB 576) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to make it illegal to transmit unsolicited advertising material to facsimile machine receivers. A 7-3 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Automobile Repairs: The Finance and Insurance Committee approved a bill (AB 103) by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) to prohibit automobile repair shops from giving kickbacks to auto insurance agents who refer business to them. A 12-0 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

Mountain Lions: The Water, Parks ands Wildlife Committee approved a bill (AB 860) by Katz to outlaw sport hunting of mountain lions. An 8-4 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Senate Floor Action: Chain Schemes: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 34-0 vote a bill (SB 82) by Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana) to crack down on investment pyramid promotional scams by increasing criminal penalties for establishing what the bill describes as “endless chain schemes” and by permitting participants to recover money invested in such schemes.

Committee Action: Rapid Transit: The Transportation Committee approved a bill (SB 1), also by Robbins, to abolish the Southern California Rapid Transit District, transferring its powers and duties to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, which would be renamed the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Los Angeles County. A 7-5 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Pesticides: The Toxics and Public Safety Management Committee approved a bill (SB 970) by Sen. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland) to prohibit the Department of Food and Agriculture from renewing the registration of a household pesticide if there has been no detailed testing of the health effects of the product. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Automobile Radio Noise: The Transportation Committee also approved a bill (SB 1130) by Sen. Cecil N. Green (D-Norwalk) to prohibit a driver of a motor vehicle from allowing radio sound system noise to be heard more than 25 feet away from the vehicle when it is being operated on any public road. Violators could be ticketed. An 8-4 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Waste Incinerators: The Toxics and Public Safety Management Committee approved a bill (SB 54) by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to require environmental impact reports before hazardous waste incinerators could be built or operating permits renewed. A 7-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Bill Introductions: Gasoline Prices: SCR 43 by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) requests the attorney general and the state Energy Commission to investigate charges that Exxon and other oil companies are using the Alaskan oil spill as an excuse to increase gasoline prices.