Governor Gets Go-Ahead to Gather Signatures for Initiative

Gov. Pete Wilson has been given the green light to begin collecting signatures on petitions to try to qualify a November ballot initiative that would slash welfare payments and give him new state budgetary controls.

The proposal needs valid signatures of 615,958 registered voters by April 17 to gain a place on the fall election ballot, according to Secretary of State March Fong Eu.

The governor wants to reduce welfare payments by as much as 25% and limit the money going to new residents coming here from other states. He also is seeking authority to reduce state spending when revenues fall below estimates.

Wilson’s critics charge that the plan is a power grab designed to strip the Legislature of authority over spending.

ASSEMBLY

Bill Introductions

* Spousal Rape: AB 2357 by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) would permit the videotaping of testimony by a victim at the preliminary hearing of a defendant charged with spousal rape or felony domestic violence.

* Judicial Pickets: AB 2362 by Assemblywoman Carol Bentley (R-El Cajon) would make it a misdemeanor offense for a person to picket near the home of a judge, juror, witness, or officer of the court in an attempt to influence legal proceedings.

* Women’s Day: ACR 86 by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R-Santa Rosa) designates March as Women’s History Month and urges Californians to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Child-Care Providers: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 21-8 vote a bill (AB 962) by Assemblywoman Deirdre Alpert (D-Del Mar) to require licensed child-care providers to have at least 15 hours of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid procedures. A similar bill was vetoed by former Gov. George Deukmejian.

Bill Introductions

* Murder: SB 1301 by Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) would permit at the penalty phase of murder trials testimony showing the impact on family and friends of the victim. Gov. Pete Wilson requested the measure in his recent State of the State speech.

* Sexual Offenders: SB 1295 by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) would increase the prison penalty for convicted repeat sexual offenders who use violence to life without the possibility of parole.

* Civil Juries: SB 1303 by Sen. Robert G. Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach) would require trial juries in civil actions in municipal and justice courts to consist of eight persons.

* Term Limits: SB 1298 by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) would permit voters in all cities, counties, school districts, community college districts and special districts to impose term limits upon elective governing board members.

* Auditor General: SCA 34 by Sen. Ken Maddy (R-Fresno) would continue the auditor general’s office and exclude its expenditures from reductions required by Proposition 140.

Capital Fact

California’s film industry continues to play a starring role in the state’s economy, with film and video production generating turnover of more than $8.2 billion in 1990, more than triple the $2.6 billion chalked up in 1980, according to a state Department of Commerce report.