Owners May Soon Get Clean Bill of Health for Pets’ Teeth

Pet owners moved a step closer to being permitted to pick the pet teeth cleaner of their choice with a 59-2 Assembly vote approving a bill (AB 3482) by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno).

The legislation goes to Gov. George Deukmejian’s desk for his signature or veto. Earlier, it passed the Senate, 27 to 7.

The bill would overturn recent regulations enacted by the state Board of Examiners in Veterinarian Medicine that made it a crime for non-vets to scrape tartar from the tooth of an animal.

“My measure allows consumers to continue to choose safe, low-cost teeth cleaning by a pet groomer or a lay person if they so wish,” Bronzan said.

GOVERNOR

Appointed Robert R. Cardoza of San Juan Capistrano to the State Park and Recreation Commission. A Republican, Cardoza, 52, who owns a landscape architectural firm, replaces Manuel A. Mollinedo of Chula Vista, who resigned. The job pays $100 per meeting day, plus necessary expenses, and requires Senate confirmation.

ASSEMBLY

Bill Introductions

Latinos: ACR 168 by Assemblyman Pete Chacon (D-San Diego) would extend the life of a legislative task force studying the under-representation of Latinos in the state Civil Service system until Nov. 30.

SENATE

Floor Action

Toxics: Passed and sent to the governor on a 32-3 vote a bill (SB 65) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) to ask the voters to include most public agencies in the requirements of a 1986 anti-toxics initiative approved by the voters four years ago. Proposition 65 prohibits private businesses from discharging or exposing anyone to any chemicals on the state’s list of those known to cause cancer or birth defects. If Deukmejian signs the bill, it would appear on the November ballot. Deukmejian vetoed similar legislation in 1988.

School television: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 23-11 vote a bill (SB 2605) by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to prohibit school districts from entering into contracts that would expose students to television programs that also contain advertisements.

Taxes: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 33-0 vote a constitutional amendment (SCA 37) by Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim) to allow a portion of property taxes on homes purchased by low-income buyers to be deferred under some circumstances.

Committee Action

Malathion: The Education Committee approved a bill (AB 4161) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to establish a center for pesticide research within the University of California to seek alternatives to malathion and other chemicals now in use. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Graffiti: The Local Government Committee approved a bill (AB 3580) by Katz to allow cities and counties to levy a 10-cent tax on aerosol spray paint cans and a nickel tax on felt-tip marker pens to help clean up gang graffiti--if two-thirds of the voters agree with such a move. A 7-0 vote sent the bill to the Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Capital Fact

Most Assembly and Senate committee hearings are open to the public and the press. Committee votes and other actions taken also are recorded and published.