Wilson Signs 2 Bills to Put School Bond Issues on Ballot

Gov. Pete Wilson has signed into law two bills to place $2.8 billion in bonds to pay for public school and higher education construction projects on the June 2 ballot.

One bill (AB 880) by Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Union City) calls for $1.9 billion in bonds for kindergarten through 12th-grade school building projects. The other measure (SB 119) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) asks voters to approve $900 million in bonds for higher education facilities.

“These bond issues are crucial to the future of California,” the governor said. “We must modernize and repair our schools and keep pace with the relentless growth if we intend to remain competitive into the 21st Century.”

Wilson added that the bond issues also would create thousands of jobs to help the state recover from the recession.

GOVERNOR

* Appointed Dan Schnur as his director of communications. Schnur, 28, will replace Otto Bos, who died last year. He has been deputy director of communications and public affairs since 1991. His salary will be $75,000 a year.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Child Care: Rejected on a 47-26 vote a bill (SB 1106) by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) to place a $50-million bond issue for child care facilities on the June ballot. The measure required 54 votes or a two-thirds majority for passage. Reconsideration requested.

Committee Action

* Jobs: The Committee on Labor and Employment approved a bill (SB 739) by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) to require at least 50% of the work on state public works projects to be accomplished by California residents. A 7-3 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

* Library Bonds: The Local Government Committee approved a bill (SB 1230) by Sen. Barry Keene (D-Ukiah) to place a $150-million library improvement bond issue on the November ballot. A 10-0 vote sent the bill to the Banking, Finance and Bonded Indebtedness Committee.

Bill Introductions

* Taiwan Trade: ACR 104 by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) requests the governor to act as quickly as possible to establish a state trade office in Taiwan.

SENATE

Floor Action

* State Employees: Passed and sent to the governor on a 27-0 vote a bill (SB 447) by Sen. Ralph C. Dills (D-Gardena) to authorize a voluntary reduced work time program for all state employees who wish to participate in a program that reportedly could save $100 million a year.

* Child Care: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 25-9 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 CPR and first-aid procedures to deal with emergencies.

* Appointment: Confirmed on a 35-0 vote the gubernatorial appointment of William E. Tainter as director of the state Department of Rehabilitation.

Capital Fact

* Petitions for 31 ballot initiatives are being circulated to obtain sufficient signatures of registered voters to qualify for the November ballot, according to the secretary of state’s office.