Panel OKs Bill to Give Vehicle Buyers ‘Cooling-Off Period’
Automobile purchasers could have a one-day “cooling-off period” to change their minds under legislation approved by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. The bill was sent to the Assembly floor on a 12-9 vote.
“Consumers are often persuaded by overzealous sales people into signing a contract for a vehicle they neither want nor can afford,” said Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles), the sponsor of the bill (AB 126).
The measure also would allow the auto dealer to retain possession of the vehicle during the one-day “cooling-off period” to give the buyer a chance to decide to cancel the purchase contract. ASSEMBLY Floor Action
Pickup Trucks: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-29 vote a bill (AB 178) by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) to prohibit people under 18 years of age from riding in the back of pickup trucks unless they are wearing seat belts or inside an enclosed area.
Police Procedures: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 65-1 vote a bill (AB 401) by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Norwalk) to create a state commission on law enforcement policies, procedures and training to help increase public confidence in police officers. Committee Action
Bounced Checks: The Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee approved a bill (AB 938) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to limit fees that banks can charge consumers for bad checks. An 8-4 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.
Drugs and Gangs: The Public Safety Committee approved a bill (AB 192) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to extend authority for a successful pilot program that finances drug and gang prevention projects in Los Angeles County with assets seized from drug dealers. A 5-1 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. Bill Introductions
RU-486 Abortions: AJR 40 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) asks President Bush and the Congress to choose California as the site for research on the French abortion pill RU-486 and, if appropriate, for subsequent clinical use here. SENATE
Operation Desert Storm: Passed and sent to the governor on a 37-0 vote a bill (SB 1) by Sen. Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) to permit military reserve members who lost income because they were called to active duty during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield to delay payments on mortgages, rent, property taxes, auto loans, credit cards and retail installment accounts under certain conditions.
Interest Rates: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 23-7 vote a bill (SB 1105) by Sen. Ralph Dills (D-Gardena) to remove a Jan. 1, 1992, termination date on a three-year period of deregulated interest rates charged on retail credit installment accounts.
Automobile Insurance: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-4 vote a bill (SB 233) by Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana) to require the state insurance commissioner to consider a reduction in auto insurance rates for people who don’t use their motor vehicles to go to and from work. Committee Action
Radar Traps: The Transportation Committee rejected a bill (SB 824) by Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) to prohibit local law enforcement officers from using photo radar to catch speeding drivers. A 5-3 vote was cast on the bill, but six yes votes were required for approval.
Drug Penalties: The Judiciary Committee rejected a bill (SB 1116) by Sen. Bill Leonard (R-Big Bear) to increase penalties for conviction on charges of furnishing drugs to pregnant women and minors. A 6-2 vote sent the bill, part of Gov. Pete Wilson’s anti-drug legislative package, to between-sessions study. Capital Fact
The only native Californian elected President of the United States was Richard M. Nixon, who lost a bid for the governorship to Democrat Edmund G. (Pat) Brown in 1962.
