Law Paves Way for Surcharges to Finance Removal of Graffiti

Voters could authorize cities and counties to impose surcharges on aerosol spray paint cans and felt-tip markers to raise money for gang graffiti cleanup efforts under a bill signed into law by Gov. George Deukmejian.

“The problem of graffiti in our neighborhoods has reached epic proportions,” said Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), the sponsor of AB 3580, “and it is the homeowner and the business owner who are bearing the high costs of removal.

“This bill sends a message to the (graffiti) ‘taggers’ that we aren’t going to bear the burden of your graffiti anymore.”

Katz’s legislation would permit local governments to levy up to a 10-cent charge on aerosol spray paint cans and a five-cent charge on marker pens to be spent solely on graffiti removal if two-thirds of the voters agreed with such a move. GOVERNOR Bills Signed

Low-Income Housing: SB 2011 by Sen. Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) to require cities and counties to approve housing developments that include a minimum of 20% of units that are affordable to low- and moderate-income families. The law sets the stage for proponents to take cities and counties that balk to court.

Health Insurance: AB 1721 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to prohibit health insurance companies from discriminating against applicants on the basis of sexual orientation.

Drunk Driving: AB 2040 by Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) to permanently extend a program calling for the installation of ignition-interlock devices designed to prevent repeat drunk drivers from starting their automobiles while under the influence of alcohol.

Check Cashing: AB 3096 by Assemblyman Elihu M. Harris (D-Oakland) to require check-cashing operations to conspicuously post a schedule of service fees.

Worker Safety: AB 1675 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to permit dual prosecution for criminal and civil penalties for violations of state worker-safety regulations that result in death.

Environmental Advertising: AB 3994 by Assemblyman Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto) to set specific standards that manufacturers must prove their products meet before they can use such environmental terms as “biodegradable . . . recyclable . . . or ozone friendly” in advertising. The governor said he was concerned that the bill made no allowance for goods already in the consumer pipeline, but he said the author has agreed to introduce corrective legislation next year. Bills Vetoed

Auto Theft: SB 2544 by Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana) to require the Highway Patrol to set up an auto-theft information reward program and impose an assessment on insurers to pay for it. The governor said he wasn’t convinced that another program would improve efforts in this area.

Statutory Rape: AB 4312 by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to allow women to be prosecuted for statutory rape for sexual intercourse with a boy under 18 who is not the spouse of the perpetrator. The governor said he was concerned that the bill didn’t receive the proper attention it deserved in the legislative process.

Jet Skis: AB 2768 by Assemblywoman Sunny Mojonnier (R-Encinitas) to outlaw the operation of jet skis, wet bikes or surf jets by anyone under 16. Deukmejian said he was unaware of any studies that showed that persons under 16 were involved in a disproportionate number of accidents with such vehicles. Capital Fact

Proposed legislation sent for further study between sessions of the Legislature may resurface later, but more often it quietly dies and never becomes law.