Bill Seeks Appointment of 15 Experts to Be Part of Legislature

Fifteen distinguished Californians who are not politicians could be appointed to sit in the Legislature and not even have to campaign for the job under a constitutional amendment that has been introduced in the Senate.

The additional five senators and 10 Assembly members would be people with success in other fields such as academia, business, charitable or public interest activities, journalism, science or the arts, said Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara), the author of measure SCA 44.

Selected by the Legislature, they would have the same powers, salary and benefits as elected members, except their terms would be for two years in both houses and they could serve for only two terms. Their appointments would be subject to confirmation by voters at the next election after their appointments.

Passage of Proposition 140 signaled a growing public interest in citizen-legislators instead of professional politicians, Hart said, but term limits may not go far enough in achieving that goal.

“Even with term limits,” the senator said, “I think we’ll see the same type of political insiders running, they just won’t hold office as long. The goal of SCA 44 is to bring in people who have distinguished themselves in different fields, people who can bring a fresh approach to government.”

GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (SB 676) by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to set up a pilot “boot camp” program within the California Youth Authority for nonviolent juveniles who have a history of drug abuse.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Holocaust: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 69-0 vote a resolution (ACR 78) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to designate April 26 to May 3 as Holocaust Memorial Week.

Bill Introductions

Abortions: AB 3634 by Assemblyman Chris Chandler (R-Yuba City) would prohibit abortions without the voluntary and informed consent of the woman after she had received pertinent information at least 24 hours before the abortion.

AIDS Test: AB 3744 by Assemblywoman Carol Bentley (R-El Cajon) would require individuals applying for a marriage license to take an AIDS test.

State Budget: AB 3674 by Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) would make it a felony for any officer or employee of a state government agency to make a false statement concerning state budget fiscal matters or state bonded indebtedness.

Cal-Vet Loans: AB 3780 by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Carson) would increase the maximum amount of Cal-Vet home loans from $125,000 to $150,000.

Funerals: AB 3745 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) would consolidate the existing Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers and Cemetery Board into a new After Death Goods and Services Board.

SENATE

Floor Action

Proposition 13: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 35-0 vote a bill (AB 851) by Assemblyman Johan Klehs (D-Castro Valley) to prohibit retroactive property tax increases and give the Legislature time to find an alternative to Proposition 13 if the U.S. Supreme Court invalidates the 1978 property tax-cutting initiative.

Gubernatorial Appointment: Confirmed by a 36-0 vote the governor’s appointment of John Lockwood as director of the Department of General Services.

Bill Introductions

Video Games: SB 1912 by Sen. Lucy Killea (I-San Diego) would extend the state sales tax to the playing of coin-operated video games to raise revenue for higher education student aid programs.

Capital Fact

Complimentary copies of bills, legislative daily files, histories and journals are available from the bill room, located in the basement of the state Capitol, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Copies of bills can also be obtained by writing to the author at the Capitol, Sacramento, 95814.