Pesticide Legislation Signed by Governor : Agriculture: Key bill will set up a research center within the University of California. Alternatives to malathion and other chemicals will be explored.

Gov. George Deukmejian, saying California consumers “will not learn to live with higher prices for maggot-infested fruit and vegetables,” signed into law Saturday six bills intended to give the state new weapons in its battles against agricultural pests.

A key law in the package, designed to crack down on the Mediterranean and Mexican fruit flies, will set up a center for pesticide research within the University of California.

Aerial spraying of the pesticide malathion over Los Angeles and surrounding cities over the last year prompted a prolonged outcry by residents and their legislative representatives in Sacramento, claiming the spraying was unhealthful.

The legislation signed by Deukmejian seeks to address these concerns by calling for the UC center to search for alternatives to malathion and other agricultural chemicals now in common use.

Three other bills in the package call for tougher inspections at air and sea ports of entry, increased sterile fruit fly production and a long-term state Department of Health Services study of the effects of aerial pesticide spraying on humans.

Another bill places the Legislature on record seeking to reduce pesticide use “to protect urban residents and the agricultural industry.” The sixth bill signed slightly raises a state assessment charged on the sales of registered poisons.

“California’s consumers and farmers deserve better protection from agricultural pests,” the governor said.

Sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), a foe of the malathion aerial spraying in Southern California, the UC pesticide research center bill passed the Assembly 47 to 24 and the Senate by 32 to 0.

Agricultural representatives opposed the measure because they said malathion was the best way to cope with the fruit fly infestation that threatened the livelihood of their constituents.

The fruit fly problem was a hot topic of discussion during the legislative session that began in January with a flock of bills on the subject introduced in both houses.

Last March, the debate prompted a rare committee of the whole in the Assembly--attended by all members--to listen to top scientific and government experts testify on the infestation, the health risks of spraying malathion and alternatives to using the pesticide.

A Times poll that same month showed most Californians believed that the Deukmejian Administration should temporarily halt the aerial spraying of malathion until more studies were conducted regarding its possible health hazards.

The Medfly infestation appeared to abate in the last two months and agricultural officials are hopeful they can declare full victory by early November. Some scientists, however, are convinced the pest is entrenched statewide and detection of future infestations is inevitable.

Meanwhile, the governor also signed a bill to create a new crime of stalking, described as maliciously following or disturbing the peace of others with the intent of making them fear death. It was authored by Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim).