Bill Signed to Protect Credit Card Holders

Merchants will be prohibited from requiring customers to write their credit card numbers on the backs of checks for identification purposes under legislation signed into law by Gov. George Deukmejian.

The new statute, effective Jan. 1, is the result of a bill (AB 2880) sponsored by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos). It swept through both the Assembly and Senate with little opposition.

Some merchants argue that they need the credit card numbers to help protect against bounced checks, but credit card companies don’t cover bounced checks, according to Areias. And the numbers can be illegally used by thieves to run up huge bills on cardholders’ accounts.

Meanwhile, another consumer protection measure (AB 2920), also authored by Areias, is awaiting the governor’s signature or veto. It would prohibit merchants from requiring customers to write their home addresses or telephone numbers on the front of credit card slips. GOVERNOR Bills Signed

Graffiti: SB 1977 by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) to allow the courts to suspend or delay for one year the driver’s license of a teen-ager who is convicted of defacing property with painted or other graffiti.

Drugs: SB 2739 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) to require state agencies that receive federal “war on drugs” funds to report to the Legislature on how they plan to spend the money.

Video Games: AB 3280 by Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-El Monte) to prohibit video games for use by youths under the age of 18 from containing paid advertisements for alcoholic beverages or tobacco products.

Police: AB 1720 by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to require a state study of the feasibility of establishing a college scholarship program for prospective police officers. A report with recommendations will be made to the governor and the Legislature by Jan. 1.

Judges: SB 2023 by Sen. Gary Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to increase prison sentences for persons convicted of using an explosive device or arson for terrorizing purposes at the home or office of a judge.

Private Colleges: AB 2670 by Assemblywoman Marian LaFollette (R-Northridge) to require the state to put up freeway direction signs to private colleges and universities with an enrollment of 1,000 or more if so requested and paid for by private donations.

Absentee Ballots: AB 3586 by Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) to require county election officials to post notices of the date, time and place where absentee ballots will be opened and counted. Miscellaneous

Procrastination: The Legislature sent Gov. George Deukmejian more than 1,500 bills during the hectic final week of the recently concluded session. The Assembly and Senate had sent the governor only about 700 bills during the first eight months of the year. Under the state Constitution, Deukmejian has 30 days to either sign or veto the last-minute barrage of measures. He recently took a verbal jab at the lawmakers by saying, “Procrastinating is human nature, but it’s time for the Legislature to take a good hard look at its practice of passing hundreds of bills, many of which are not controversial, at the tail end of the session.” Capital Fact

The Latin words “Senatoris Est Civitatis Libertatem Tueri” inscribed above the state Senate chamber rostrum translate into “It is the Duty of the Senators to Protect the Liberty of the People.”