Civil Rights Bill Would Affect Sex Bias Cases, English on Job

A sweeping civil rights bill authored by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) has been approved by the Ways and Means Committee and is headed for a showdown floor vote.

The committee voted 12 to 8 to approve the measure (AB 3825). Among other things, it would restore the authority of the state Fair Employment and Housing Commission to award monetary damages in sexual harassment cases, ban discrimination against the disabled and prohibit employers from requiring employees to speak English only in the workplace.

In addition, a state Supreme Court decision that restricted the rights of low-income families to obtain housing would be overturned by the legislation.

GOVERNOR

* Signed into law a bill (AB 56) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to give Los Angeles renters a five-day grace period to respond to eviction notices because the courts were closed due to recent riots.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Dogs and Cats: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 58-6 vote a bill (AB 3088) by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) to make it an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $200 for failure to have a dog or cat neutered or spayed when obtained from an animal shelter or a humane society.

* Cable Television: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 68-0 vote a bill (AB 2388) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to require cable television companies to give customers a minimum of 30 days advance notice before raising the rates or decreasing the number of channels available.

Committee Action

* Junk Fax: The Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (AB 2438) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to make it illegal to transmit unsolicited advertising over a fax machine. A 16-0 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

* Breast Cancer: The Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill (AB 3410) by Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to increase the cigarette tax by two cents a pack to finance a $36-million breast cancer research, early detection and awareness program. A 6-2 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Physical Education: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-8 vote a bill (SB 2001) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to exempt high school students who engage in interscholastic sports from attending physical education classes.

* Charity Fund-Raisers: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 36-0 vote a bill (SB 1682) by Sen. Daniel E. Boatwright (D-Concord) to require professional fund-raisers to register with the attorney general and file annual reports on how much money they raise and how much actually goes to the charity.

* Physical Abuse: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 22-7 vote a bill (SB 1646) by Sen. Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier) to expand the definition of severe physical abuse to include the willful, prolonged failure to provide adequate food.

* Murder Trials: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-2 vote a bill (SB 1301) by Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) to permit at the penalty phase of murder trials testimony showing the impact of the killing on the family and friends of the victim. Gov. Pete Wilson requested this bill in his State of the State speech.