Democrats Offer Own Plan for Children’s Services Agency

Assembly Democrats are trying to set up a new state agency to coordinate children’s services as an alternative to a plan advanced by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson that bogged down in the Legislature last year.

The legislation (AB 2545) by Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Oakland) would create a Department of Children’s Services under a Cabinet-level secretary to coordinate 150 state services offered by seven agencies.

Bates said the agency would offer “one-stop shopping” for children’s services and “stop the bureaucratic shuffle.”

A Wilson spokeswoman called the Democratic proposal “raw politics” and said it leaves out the vital element of schools.

The governor proposed a child services consolidation plan last year, and named Maureen DiMarco as its secretary, but it died in an Assembly committee during the political fight over reapportionment. Wilson’s agency would have authority over schools. Supporters of the Bates proposal say there is an agency for schools, supervised by the superintendent of public instruction.

ASSEMBLY: Floor Action

* Credit Life Insurance: Passed and sent to the governor on a 42-21 vote a bill (AB 2107) by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) to give the state insurance commissioner the power to oversee credit life and disability insurance rates.

Committee Action

* Health Care Costs: The Insurance Committee approved a bill (AB 2799) by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) to place a cap on health care costs and require health insurance companies to offer coverage to all Californians. A 10-5 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

* Telephone Calls: The Public Safety Committee approved a bill (AB 2465) by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) to make it a crime to intentionally eavesdrop on and record cellular and cordless telephone conversations. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Bill Introductions

* State Budget: ACA 53 by Assemblyman Richard L. Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) would require the governor and legislators to forfeit salary and living expenses if the state budget is not passed by the June 15 constitutional deadline. The forfeiture would continue until a budget bill is passed and there would be no retroactive payments.

SENATE: Committee Action

* Unemployment Insurance: The Industrial Relations Committee approved a bill (SB 1699) by President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) to increase the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit from $230 to $366. A 4-2 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

* Coastal Development: The Natural Resources Committee approved a bill (SB 1449) by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) to grant authority to the state Coastal Commission and local governments to impose fines of up to $10,000 per day for illegal coastal development projects. A 6-1 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

* Space Satellites: The Governmental Organization Committee approved a bill (SB 1416) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to promote the use of Vandenberg Air Force Base for commercial space satellite launches. A 7-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

* Rock Art: The Natural Resources Committee approved a bill (SB 1499) by Sen. Dan McCorquodale (D-San Jose) to make it illegal to remove rock art paintings as well as prehistoric ruins and fossils from public lands. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Miscellaneous

Press Secretary Departing: Robert Forsyth, press secretary to Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles), is resigning to accept a similar position with San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan. A former Sacramento Bee reporter and editor, Forsyth, 51, has worked for Roberti since 1985.