CALIFORNIA LAWS ’92

There’s good news for Californians worried about the increasing number of hate crimes committed solely because of a victim’s race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, disability or sexual orientation. There’s bad news for motorcyclists who like the freedom of riding helmetless with the wind blowing through their hair. Taking effect today are many of the 1,504 bills passed by the Legislature and sent to Gov. Pete Wilson’s desk. The governor signed 1,237 bills and allowed eight others to become law without his signature. He vetoed the remaining 259 bills. Here’s a sampling. To obtain more information about a particular law, write the bill’s author at the State Capitol, Sacramento, Calif. 95814.

CRIME

Hate Crimes--Potential penalties are substantially increased for crimes committed against victims solely because of race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, disability or sexual orientation. The new statute doubles the sentence for misdemeanor crimes from six months to a year in jail, adds one to four years for felonies, increases possible civil penalties from $10,000 to $25,000, and removes the cap on punitive damages (SB 98 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward).

More Hate Crimes--Burning a cross or placing a swastika on private property for the purpose of terrorizing the occupant becomes a possible felony. It also becomes easier for a district attorney or city attorney to obtain a court order aimed at stopping hate violence (AB 1829 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg, D-Garden Grove, and AB 1169 by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland).

Still More Hate Crimes--The University of California, the state colleges and the community colleges will compile and submit to the Legislature and the governor biennial reports on hate crimes that are committed on their campuses (AB 1094 by Assemblyman Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles).

Gender Discrimination--State hate crime criminal statutes are extended to cover crimes committed solely because of a person’s gender (AB 1009 by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles).

Loaded Guns--Parents and other adults become subject to prison terms if, because of their carelessness, someone is killed or severely wounded by a child who gains access to a loaded firearm (AB 2029 by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly, D-Sacramento).

Gun Safety--Prospective handgun buyers will be required to take a two- to four-hour state-approved gun safety course before they can acquire a weapon, starting in 1993 (AB 618 by Assemblyman Rusty Areias, D-Los Banos).

Assault Weapons--A special 90-day extension period is set up for the owners of legally obtained semiautomatic weapons who failed to register them earlier as required by law (SB 263 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti, D-Los Angeles).

More Guns--Individuals under criminal court restraining orders are prohibited from purchasing or receiving firearms (AB 108 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman, D-Los Angeles).

Body Armor--An additional one, two or three years can be added to the prison sentence of a person convicted of wearing body armor during the commission of a crime (AB 1076 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-South San Francisco).

Fake Bombs--It becomes a crime to possess a fake bomb with the intent of making another person fear for his or her safety or the safety of others (SB 384 by Sen. Newton R. Russell, R-Glendale).

Felony Crimes--The list of violent felony crimes that require more severe sentences is expanded to include robbery of an inhabited vessel, kidnaping for the purpose of child molestation, and continual sexual abuse of a child (AB 1393 by Assemblywoman Deirdre Alpert, D-Del Mar).

Television Testimony--Children under the age of 10 can be permitted to testify on one-way television in criminal cases (SB 905 by Sen. Lucy Killea, I-San Diego).

Female Prisoners--A special state task force will study and report to the Legislature on female prisoner health care issues, problems, and solutions (AB 900 by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles).

TRANSPORTATION

Motorcycle Helmets--Drivers and passengers on motorcycles are required to wear safety helmets to help protect them against death or head injuries. Failure to wear a helmet is an infraction punishable by a $100 fine for a first offense with increasing fines for subsequent violations (AB 7 by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd, D-Carson).

Fee Increases--Vehicle registration fees for all automobiles are increased by $5 and fees for most driver’s licenses are increased by $2 (SB 184 by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, I-San Francisco).

Driver’s Licenses--Juvenile court judges can suspend or delay for one year the driving privileges of a minor who is found to be a habitual truant (SB 558 by Sen. Cecil N. Green, D-Norwalk).

Tow Truck Operators--Criminal background checks for tow truck drivers to provide additional protection for stranded motorists are authorized in the Los Angeles Basin under a two-year pilot program (AB 123 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

Automobile Sales--Dealers are prohibited from using advertising terms such as “dealer’s cost” and “below invoice” that tend to confuse potential purchasers about the real price of a car (AB 1763 by Assemblyman Byron D. Sher, D-Palo Alto).

More Auto Sales--The amount of money that a dealer can add to the advertised price of a used vehicle for providing a smog device certificate is increased from $25 to $35, and cars offered for sale at public auctions must include an authorized smog certificate (SB 245 by Sen. Robert Presley, D-Riverside).

Auto Bumpers--Manufacturers must post the ability of bumpers to withstand an accident to help buyers assess safety factors of new cars (SB 265 by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, I-San Francisco).

Seat Belts--Taxicab drivers are exempted from having to wear seat belts when driving on city streets to enable them to escape more easily from potential robbers (AB 632 by Assemblyman John Burton, D-San Francisco).

Truckers’ Hours--Trucking employers are prohibited from requiring truck drivers to exceed a maximum of 12 hours driving in a 16-hour shift. Stiff fines are established for violations (SB 1226 by Sen. Newton R. Russell, R-Glendale).

Disabled Parking--It becomes a misdemeanor to lend a disabled person’s parking identification card to a person who is not disabled (AB 1346 by Assemblyman Paul A. Woodruff, R-Yucaipa).

Electric Cars--The state Energy Commission is given the green light to encourage and assist private enterprise in the sale of electric cars (AB 1926 by Assemblyman Sam Farr, D-Carmel).

Collegiate License Plates--Issuance is authorized of special vehicle license plates displaying the name and logo of participating colleges, for an additional fee. The money will be split between college scholarships and a state natural resources preservation fund (SB 1092 by Sen. Frank Hill, R-Whittier).

ENVIRONMENT

Toxic Spills--A $10-million railroad accident prevention and response fund is set up with financing furnished by special fees charged to railroad companies and other firms that transport toxic materials in California. The Public Utilities Commission is charged with identifying potentially dangerous rail sites and recommending ways to correct them (SB 48 by Sen. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, AB 151 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar, and SB 152 by Sen. Lucy Killea, I-San Diego).

Water Pollution--As a result of the disastrous Southern Pacific tank car pesticide spill last year near Dunsmuir in Northern California, fines are increased for oil and chemical spills into rivers and other state waters (SB 1081 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

Offshore Oil Drilling--Leasing of state-owned tidelands and the ocean floor off Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Orange counties for drilling purposes is prohibited until Jan. 1, 1995, unless there is a national emergency (AB 888 by Assemblyman Tom Mays, R-Huntington Beach).

Coastal Development--The state Coastal Commission is empowered to immediately issue a cease-and-desist order against any coastal zone project under its jurisdiction that is not covered by a commission-issued permit (SB 317 by Sen. Ed Davis, R-Santa Clarita).

Hazardous Wastes--Penalties for the unauthorized dumping of hazardous substances on any road, street, highway, alley or railroad right of way are increased (SB 1197 by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, I-San Francisco).

Industrial Waste--Local agencies are authorized to increase the financial penalties that they can impose on industries that fail to properly treat industrial waste before disposing of it (SB 1024 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti, D-Los Angeles).

Toxic Waste Dumps--Indian tribes can enter into cooperative agreements with the state to utilize environmental protection regulations for the operation of toxic waste dumps and landfills (AB 240 by Assemblyman Steve Peace, D-Rancho San Diego).

Plastic Containers--Manufacturers must use at least 25% recycled materials when producing plastic containers by the year 1995 (SB 235 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

Air Pollution--Smog control agencies can require applicants for new permits to disclose previous violations of old permits and deny new permits to repeat offenders (AB 158 by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles).

Smog District--A new San Joaquin Valley Air Quality District will be created, encompassing the counties of Kern, Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Merced, Kings, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus, effective July 1 (SB 124 by Sen. Dan McCorquodale, D-San Jose).

Gasoline Pumps--Hold-open latches are required on service station gasoline pumps to help protect motorists against the toxic effects of benzene emissions (AB 149 by Assemblywoman Sally Tanner, D-Baldwin Park).

Governor’s Report--The governor is required to report annually to the Legislature on the state of the environment and make recommendations on how to improve it, as he must now do on the economy (SB 1021 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

CONSUMERS

Free Cigarettes--In a move designed to prevent teen-agers from smoking, tobacco companies are prohibited from handing out free samples of cigarettes in public places such as street corners (SB 1100 by Sen. Marian Bergeson, R-Newport Beach).

Credit History--When a prospective employer obtains a credit report on a job applicant, a free copy must also be provided to the applicant (AB 1102 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-South San Francisco).

Interest Rates--A scheduled expiration date is removed on the deregulation of interest rates that department stores can charge to credit accounts, and deregulation is extended indefinitely, allowing the stores to charge what they please (SB 1105 by Sen. Ralph C. Dills, D-Gardena).

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Pesticides--The state’s ability to pull pesticides from the market is strengthened if the manufacturer fails to provide adequate information on possible adverse human health effects (SB 550 by Sen. Nicholas C. Petris, D-Oakland).

More Pesticides--A data collection and evaluation process is established for all other pesticide ingredients that aren’t on lists of most commonly used chemicals (AB 1742 by Assemblyman Tom Hayden, D-Santa Monica).

Rice Straw--Burning of rice straw by farmers, which causes air pollution, will be phased out in the Sacramento Valley air basin by the year 2000 (AB 1378 by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly D-Sacramento).

Equine Protection--To foil rustlers, all horses, ponies, mules and burros destined for slaughter must be inspected by a state Department of Food and Agriculture brand inspector (AB 1900 by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell, D-Carpinteria).

CHILDREN

Child Support--Monetary penalties for falling behind in child support payments and the amount of support awarded by the courts are substantially increased (SB 101 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

More Child Support--Applicants must disclose their Social Security numbers on all driver’s license and vehicle registration forms, which will help district attorneys track parents who are behind in their child support payments (SB 395 by Sen. Becky Morgan, R-Los Altos Hills).

Child Care--Personal income and bank and corporation tax credits that encourage companies to establish child care centers for workers are extended until January of 1995 (SB 227 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

More Child Care--A computerized system for obtaining background information is established that will allow parents to check on individuals who offer child care services (AB 1379 by Assemblyman William P. Baker, R-Danville).

Cigarette Lighters--New standards to be established will make it harder for children under 5 years of age to operate cigarette lighters (AB 757 by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles).

Lead Poisoning--All children will be screened for lead poisoning, beginning in 1993, with industries paying for the tests, as well as any necessary treatment (AB 2038 by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly, D-Sacramento, AB 1979 by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, and SB 240 by Sen. Art Torres, D-Los Angeles).

Health Services--A $20-million “healthy start” program is implemented to coordinate services for children, including mental health, nutrition, dental services, prenatal care, immunization and parenting education courses (SB 620 by Sen. Robert Presley, D-Riverside).

Child Molesters--Judges can order convicted child molesters to pay full restitution to their victims, including all medical bills and psychological counseling (SB 736 by Sen. Ed Davis, R-Santa Clarita).

SCHOOLS

Student Testing--New competency tests for 5.1 million public school students will be developed and used with the goal of better evaluating the performance of students and teachers (SB 662 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

AIDS Education--Junior and senior high school students are required to receive AIDS prevention instruction--unless their parents or guardians object (AB 11 by Assemblywoman Teresa P. Hughes, D-Los Angeles).

Child Abuse--The state Department of Education is instructed to establish specific guidelines for the filing of child abuse complaints by parents or guardians against school employees (AB 2232 by Assemblyman Rusty Areias, D-Los Banos).

Sexual Battery--Schools can fire teachers who are charged with sexual battery, which is defined as forced touching of an intimate part of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification (AB 187 by Assemblywoman Doris Allen, R-Cypress).

School Boards--To prevent possible conflicts of interest, school employees are prohibited from serving on their school district governing boards (SB 1154 by Sen. Marian Bergeson, R-Newport Beach).

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Professor of the Year--Three or more $5,000 governor’s awards for “professor of the year” will be given for outstanding teaching of undergraduate courses at public and private institutions of higher learning. The awards will be financed by private contributions (AB 1140 by Assemblyman Paul Woodruff, R-Yucaipa).

Rape Counseling--Public colleges and universities are required to set up on-campus rape and sexual assault education programs for students and professional staff members (AB 365 by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles).

HOUSING

Affordability--A state task force will study and make recommendations to the Legislature on how to restructure housing programs to obtain maximum federal funding that could provide up to $3 billion a year to build affordable housing units (AB 1785 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

Home Building Agreements--Written contracts spelling out exactly what is expected from both parties are required between builders and owners for the construction of single-family dwellings (SB 618 by Sen. Henry J. Mello, D-Watsonville).

Condominiums--Homeowner associations are required to give advance notice to members if special assessments are being contemplated to make repairs, and sellers are required to inform potential buyers of existing assessments. Association membership meeting notices also must specify all business matters to be considered by the board of directors (AB 623 by Assemblyman Tom Bane, D-Tarzana, and AB 839 by Assemblyman Dan Hauser, D-Arcata).

Mobile Home Parks--Park managers must disclose in writing the name, address and telephone number of the park owner upon a request by a tenant (AB 577 by Assemblywoman Doris Allen, R-Cypress).

HEALTH

AIDS--Health insurance companies are prohibited from discriminating against HIV-infected people who show no symptoms of AIDS (AB 1281 by Assemblyman William J. Filante, R-Greenbrae).

More AIDS--Health insurers also are prohibited from denying coverage to individuals solely because they are participating in trials to try to find an AIDS-HIV vaccine (AB 1287 by Assemblyman John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara).

Life Support--The state’s right-to-die law is revised to allow an adult to sign a written document at any time directing that his or her life-sustaining treatment be withheld if a terminal illness has been diagnosed (SB 980 by Sen. Barry Keene, D-Benicia).

INSURANCE

Junk Bonds--In response to the Executive Life Insurance Co. collapse, the amount of money that insurance companies can invest in high-risk, high-yield “junk bonds” is restricted to no more than 20% of their total assets (SB 1135 by Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton).

Removal and Suspension--The state insurance commissioner is given new powers to remove or suspend employees of the insurance industry who by repeated misconduct have caused financial harm to the public (SB 389 by Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton).

Solvency of Funds--Health and life insurance companies are required to be certified annually by independent actuaries regarding the solvency of their reserve funds (SB 889 by Sen. Alan Robbins, D-Tarzana).

WOMEN

Sexual Assault--The courts are authorized to order people convicted of sexual assaults to pay costs incurred by victims for medical examinations used as evidence (AB 659 by Assemblywoman Cathie Wright, R-Simi Valley).

Spousal Rape--The possible jail sentence is increased for people armed with or using a deadly weapon in the commission of spousal rape (SB 538 by Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton).

Battered Women--Courts can permit evidence of continuing battered woman syndrome to be admitted as a defense in the criminal cases of women who are accused of killing their abusive spouses or live-in lovers (AB 785 by Assemblyman Gerald R. Eaves, D-Rialto).

Rape Victims--Law enforcement officers must give rape victims a crisis card describing their basic rights and listing all local available resources and services with telephone numbers (SB 835 by Sen. Dan McCorquodale, D-San Jose).

Domestic Violence--Judges are no longer permitted to sentence domestic violence victims to jail on contempt of court charges for refusing to testify against their abusers (AB 363 by Assemblyman Pat Nolan, R-Glendale).

More Domestic Violence--State officials will survey domestic violence prosecutions in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Humboldt counties and make recommendations to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 1993 (AB 372 by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles).

Health Research--All state agencies are required to ensure that women and minorities are appropriately represented in tests for health research projects (AB 2005 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-South San Francisco).

GANGS

Drive-By Shootings--In an effort to crack down on drive-by shootings, penalties for a second or subsequent conviction for carrying a loaded firearm in a public place or automobile are increased (AB 637 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman, D-Los Angeles).

School Crimes--Judges can add one extra year to the prison sentence of anyone convicted of a gang-related crime committed within 1,000 feet of a school (AB 1866 by Assemblyman Xavier Becerra, D-Monterey Park).

Graffiti--The courts can impose a $250 fine and 48 hours of community service for a first offense conviction of graffiti vandalism (AB 446 by Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland, R-Granada Hills).

EARTHQUAKES

Bond Improvements--Cities and counties are authorized to issue bonds for upgrading unreinforced public and private buildings if approved by two-thirds of the voters (AB 1001 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, D-San Francisco).

Retrofitting--New statewide standards are established for the seismic retrofitting of unreinforced masonry buildings as an earthquake safety measure (AB 204 by Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese, D-San Jose).

Home Sales--Real estate agents are required to provide prospective home buyers with information explaining any seismic safety deficiencies and how to best to correct them, starting July 1 (AB 200 by Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese, D-San Jose).

Commercial Buildings--The state Seismic Safety Commission is charged with developing an earthquake safety guide for commercial property owners (AB 1968 by Assemblyman Rusty Areias, D-Los Banos).

ELECTIONS and POLITICS

Initiative Petitions--Proponents are prohibited from using initiatives to fund specific projects in exchange for either campaign contributions or pledges to help qualify a proposed measure for the ballot (SB 424 by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, I-San Francisco).

Campaign Advertising--Unauthorized duplication of official-looking public documents in political campaign advertisements is prohibited (SB 209 by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, I-San Francisco).

Independent Candidates--Members of major political parties can leave their party 13 months before a general election and still be eligible to seek independent nomination the following year. This will allow Sen. Lucy Killea (I-San Diego), who has terminated her Democratic registration, and others to run for reelection as independents this year (SB 608 by Sen. Lucy Killea, I-San Diego).

VETERANS

Desert Storm--Active duty military personnel who were called up and served during Operation Desert Storm become eligible for Cal-Vet home and farm loans and educational benefits (AB 270 by Assemblyman Dan Hauser, D-Arcata).

Veterans’ Home--A 12-member commission is established to advise the governor and the Legislature on establishment of a veterans’ home in the Southern California region. There already is a veterans’ home in Yountville in Northern California (AB 514 by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd, D-Carson).

Memorial Fund--Taxpayers are allowed to designate that a portion of their state income tax refunds be deposited in a state Veterans Memorial Fund (SB 1029 by Sen. Don Rogers, R-Bakersfield).

Campus Recruiters--High schools are prohibited from denying campus access to military recruiters if they offer access to other potential student employers (SB 400 by Sen. William A. Craven, R-Oceanside).

DRUGS

Tranquilizer Limit--Doctors’ prescriptions for all tranquilizers and sedatives, including Valium, Xanax, Halcion and others, are limited to a 120-day supply (AB 1188 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-South San Francisco).

Increased Penalties--Possession of a loaded firearm in conjunction with any amount of illegal substances--instead of only a large amount of dangerous drugs and narcotics--becomes a felony calling for increased penalties (AB 154 by Assemblywoman Carol Bentley, R-El Cajon).

Prevention Programs--Los Angeles County is permitted to continue to fund anti-drug and anti-gang prevention programs for youngsters with money obtained from the sale of automobiles, boats and homes seized from illicit drug dealers (AB 192 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

SENIOR CITIZENS

Alzheimer’s Disease--A state income tax refund checkoff system for voluntary donations to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorder Research Fund is extended for five years (AB 281 by Assemblyman William J. Filante, R-Greenbrae).

Sales Contracts--Elderly people who buy emergency response devices from door-to-door salesmen have seven business days in which to change their minds and cancel the contract (AB 585 by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen, R-Santa Rosa).

Elder Abuse--Attorneys can collect increased fees to encourage them to take more cases of elder dependent and disabled adult abuse (SB 679 by Sen. Henry J. Mello, D-Watsonville).

EMPLOYMENT

Parental Leave--Employees of businesses with more than 50 workers can take up to four months unpaid leave to care for newborn or sick children or sick parents or spouses without the fear of losing their jobs (AB 77 by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore, D-Los Angeles).

Unemployment Insurance--The maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit payment jumps from $210 to $230 under a 1989 law that called for a three-year step increase program (SB 600 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti, D-Los Angeles).

Cal/OSHA Fines--Employers face potential fines increased in some cases by as much as 700% for the violation of state workplace health and safety standards (AB 1545 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman, D-Los Angeles).

Workers’ Compensation Fraud--Potential penalties for the misrepresentation of facts by any party to workers’ compensation claim cases are substantially increased (SB 1218 by Sen. Robert Presley, D-Riverside).

More Workers’ Compensation--Penalties are increased for employers who fail to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and proof of such insurance is required when applying for a state business license (AB 1576 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman, D-Los Angeles).

Video Display Terminals--A state study on health effects of continual exposure to low-frequency radiation emitted by video display terminals (VDTs) must be presented to the Legislature by July 1 (AB 2104 by Assemblyman Tom Bane, D-Tarzana).

Literacy Programs--Employers must reasonably accommodate any employee who requests assistance in enrolling in an adult literacy improvement program (SB 647 by Sen. Ralph C. Dills, D-Gardena).

Minority Businesses--The University of California will study the status of businesses owned or operated by minorities and female minorities and make a report with recommendations to the Legislature (SB 718 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti, D-Los Angeles).

WATER

Water Meters--As a water conservation measure, water meters are required on all new residential and commercial buildings (SB 229 by Sen. Daniel E. Boatwright, D-Concord).

Water Plan--The state Department of Water Resources is required to update the California Water Plan every five years, including public hearings, and to submit the results to the Legislature for long-range planning (AB 799 by Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese, D-San Jose).

PETS

Pet Stores--New regulations are established for the care and treatment of dogs and cats by pet store dealers and breeders (SB 1128 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward).

Stolen Pets--Stealing another person’s pet animal for the purpose of reselling it to a medical facility for research purposes becomes a felony (SB 15 by Sen. Alan Robbins, D-Tarzana).

Pedigree Dogs--Pet dealers are required to advise prospective purchasers that pedigree registration papers do not guarantee either a dog’s good health or lineage accuracy (SB 1020 by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal, D-Los Angeles).

FISH AND GAME

Wildlife Habitat Preservation--More of the rapidly disappearing areas of fish and wildlife habitat located along California’s waterways will be acquired and protected by the state (SB 906 by Sen. Frank Hill, R-Whittier).

Endangered Species--The state also will cooperate with local governmental officials, landowners, developers and environmentalists to preserve and protect the habitat of wildife species, particularly those listed as threatened and endangered (AB 2172 by Assemblyman David G. Kelley, R-Hemet).

Drunken Boaters--Judges are authorized to sentence people convicted of operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol to enroll in an alcoholic rehabilitation treatment program (SB 515 by Sen. Milton Marks, D-San Francisco).

Wild Pigs--The Fish and Game Department will prepare a wild pig hunting management plan similar to existing plans for big game mammals that will be submitted to the Legislature (SB 819 by Sen. Henry J. Mello, D-Watsonville).

Alligator Farms--To discourage the practice, state permits for the operation of farms at which alligators or crocodiles are raised for either the meat or hides will not be issued (SB 1013 by Sen. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena).

MISCELLANEOUS

Public Comments--Local legislative bodies, including those governing cities, counties and school districts, must allow time for public comment during meetings (SB 100 by Sen. Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward).

Charity Fund-Raisers--Sponsors of charitable fund-raisers are required to file a copy of their annual financial report with the sheriff of any county in which they intend to solicit funds (AB 2099 by Sen. Tim Leslie, R-Auburn).

Multicultural Center--Airspace located directly above the Santa Ana Freeway in downtown Los Angeles is reserved for lease to a nonprofit public benefit agency for the development of a multicultural center (SB 1127 by Sen. Art Torres, D-Los Angeles).

Indian Remains--Museums and universities are encouraged to return warehoused Indian skeletal remains to their rightful descendants for burial purposes (AB 12 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

State Prehistoric Artifact--The Chipped Stone Bear, a prehistoric carved animal recovered in 1935 from an archaelogical dig in Northern San Diego County, becomes the official state prehistoric artifact (SB 404 by Sen. Ralph C. Dills, D-Gardena).

Sports Officials--The penalty for battery against an umpire, referee or other sports official is increased from six months in jail and a $1,000 fine to a possible year in jail and a $2,000 fine (AB 925 by Assemblyman Thomas M. Hannigan, D-Fairfield).

Horse Racing--Giving a racehorse any substance not specificially authorized by the California Horse Racing Board is prohibited after the horse has been entered in a race (SB 31 by Sen. Ken Maddy, R-Fresno).

Poker--All forms of poker are legalized in licensed card clubs throughout California, subject to local governmental approval (AB 97 by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd, D-Carson. The governor allowed this bill to become law without his signature).