Showdown Vote on Alcohol Tax Boost Set in Assembly

With backing from the liquor lobby, the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee has forwarded to the lower house floor for a showdown vote a proposed constitutional amendment to impose a $230-million tax increase on alcoholic beverages.

The legislation (ACA 38) was launched by liquor interests to fend off a more drastic “nickel a drink” initiative that would raise liquor taxes by $830 million. The industry seeks to persuade voters to adopt the more modest alcohol tax increase.

Sponsored by Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese (D-San Jose), the industry-backed measure requires a two-thirds vote to win a spot on the November general election ballot. It previously passed the Senate.

Meanwhile, the secretary of state’s office said Tuesday that the tax initiative has qualified for the November ballot, with more than 1 million signatures of registered voters submitted.

Under the liquor lobby’s plan, the per-gallon tax would increase from 1 cent to 20 cents on table wine; from 4 cents to 20 cents on beer, and from $2 to $3.30 on hard liquor. By contrast, the “nickel a drink” initiative would raise the tax per gallon to $1.29 on wine, 57 cents on beer, and $8.40 on hard liquor. GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (AB 2986) by Assemblyman Charles Quackenbush (R-Saratoga) to protect high-technology trade secrets from possible theft by allowing closed court hearings in cases where the judge rules there is no overriding public interest. ASSEMBLY Floor Action

Empty Bottles: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-23 vote a bill (AB 3050) by Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) to add empty wine and liquor bottles to the state’s recycling and litter-reduction program, effective July 1, 1991.

Air Pollution: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 54-19 vote a bill (AB 2766) by Assemblyman Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto) to allow air quality districts to impose up to a $2 surcharge on vehicle registrations to help pay costs in reducing air pollution.

Criminals: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 66-1 vote a bill (AB 3821) by Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) to make computerized photographs of criminals with past records available to all law enforcement agencies in California. The estimated $24-million price tag would come from increased criminal offense fines.

Kids’ Vote: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-28 vote a bill (AB 3871) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to set up a pilot program in schools to allow children to accompany their parents to the polls and cast mock ballots. The program, financed by private donations, is designed to encourage children to vote when they grow up.

Campus Crime: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 70-0 vote a bill (AB 3918) by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) to require college campuses to compile records of crimes committed on campus and make the information available to students, parents and college employees.

Water: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 50-19 vote a bill (AB 3426) by Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Union City) to create a state task force to develop a long-range strategic plan for water quality, water use and water conservation in California. The task force would present recommendations to the governor and the Legislature by 1993. SENATE Floor Action

Air Pollution: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 29-4 vote a bill (SB 1905) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to increase or decrease the state sales tax on new automobiles based on how much air pollution they produce.

Black Boxes: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 22-12 vote a bill (SB 2462) by Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim) to require commercial trucks to carry so-called black boxes that log the driver’s speed and hours spent behind the wheel.

Transportation: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 32-0 vote a bill (SB 1784) by Sen. Bill Leonard (R-Big Bear) to encourage planning for state and local highway and mass transit projects and save money by allowing Caltrans to acquire necessary rights of way long before a project is formally adopted. Committee Action

Gangs and Drugs: The Appropriations Committee approved a bill (AB 1716) by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) calling for up to $200,000 to develop a program for second-, fourth- and sixth-graders to equip children with skills to resist pressure to join gangs and use drugs. A 10-0 vote sent the bill to the Senate floor. Capital Fact

In case of a disaster or emergency, the governor can call an extraordinary legislative session by proclamation. Legislators can act only upon those subjects specified in the proclamation during that session.