Senate’s Limit on Bills Cuts Volume by 29%--to 2,064

The volume of legislation introduced in the Senate has been reduced by 29%, saving the taxpayers millions of dollars, according to the Senate author of a resolution limiting the number of measures that can be tossed into the bill hopper.

Senators introduced 2,064 bills before the recent 1991-92 session deadline compared to 2,912 bills during the 1989-90 session for a net reduction of 848 bills.

Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara), who authored the resolution limiting the number of bills each senator can introduce to 65 per two-year session, said each bill costs an estimated $10,000 to process.

“More is not always better,” Hart said. “The Legislature should focus more effort on the quality of bills it considers rather than the quantity. I’m glad we’ve taken a first step in that direction.”

The Assembly has refused to impose a limit on the number of bills that its members can introduce.

GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (AB 678) by Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland (R-Granda Hills) to require school officials to suspend and recommend for expulsion students who are found in possession of firearms on campus.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

King Beating: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 62-4 vote a bill (AB 2340) by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) that would require any law enforcement officer who witnesses an unlawful assault to file a report with his or her superiors within 48 hours of the incident. Failure to do so would be a misdemeanor offense. The measure stems from the Rodney G. King beating by Los Angeles police officers.

Child Care: Passed and sent to the governor on a 41-24 vote a bill (AB 962) by Assemblywoman Deirdre Alpert (D-Del Mar) that would require licensed child-care providers to have at least 15 hours of training in CPR and first-aid procedures to deal with emergencies.

Committee Action

Junk Fax: The Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency and Economic Development Committee approved a bill (AB 2438) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) that would restrict transmission of unsolicited advertising messages over fax machines and impose a $500 fine for illegal transmissions. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Campus Crime: The Higher Education Committee approved a bill (AB 3739) by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) that would make reports of crimes committed on college campuses available to the press and public. A 9-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Sibling Visits: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (AB 3332) by Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) that would ensure brothers and sisters are given the right to visit each other when they become separated as wards of the state or placed in foster care homes. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Slave Labor: The Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency and Economic Development Committee approved a bill (AB 2518) by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) that would prohibit state government from purchasing any goods produced by slave labor in China or the territory of the former Soviet Union. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

SENATE

Committee Action

Air Pollution: The Transportation Committee approved a bill (SB 1404) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) that would allow smog control districts to use infrared sensors to detect the dirtiest polluting automobiles and require owners to repair them. A 7-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Campaign Contributions: The Elections and Reapportionment Committee approved a constitutional amendment (SCA 4) by Sen. Barry Keene (D-Ukiah) that would direct the Legislature to impose campaign contribution and spending limits and initiate partial public financing subject to voter ratification. A 6-1 vote sent the measure to the Rules Committee.

Ballot Measures: The Elections Committee also approved a bill (SB 1803) by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) that would require radio and television advertisements for and against proposed ballot measures to state clearly who paid for them. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.