Bill to Create Panel for Reform of Budgetary Process Backed

The Assembly has passed legislation calling for the creation of a citizens’ commission to review the state’s budgetary process, make recommendations for any needed improvements, and examine the possibility of creating a one-house Legislature.

A 41-32 vote, the exact vote needed for approval, sent the measure (SB 458), sponsored by Sen. Lucy Killea (I-San Diego), back to the Senate for concurrence in lower-house amendments.

The proposed 120-member unicameral Legislature would replace the existing 80-member Assembly and 40-member Senate.

“This is a powerful political reform measure that could prevent the interminable deadlock of the budget season,” Killea said, “and offer constituents better, more personal representation.”

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* More State Budget: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 47-17 vote a bill (AB 3674) by Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) to make it a felony for state or local governmental officials to knowingly make false statements concerning state budget matters.

* Community Colleges: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-29 vote a bill (AB 2782) by Assemblyman Robert Campbell (D-Richmond) to impose a fee of $50 per unit per semester on community college students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree.

* Student Discipline: Rejected on a 27-40 vote a bill (AB 2632) by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to restrict the ability of school officials to expel or suspend students for disrupting school activities.

* Cartoon Advertisements: Rejected on a 28-32 vote a bill (AB 2935) by Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly (D-Sacramento) to prohibit the use of cartoon characters in the advertising of products that are deemed to be unsafe for minors.

* Gang Violence: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 47-16 vote a bill (AB 3750) by Assemblyman Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) to create a California Gang Violence Prevention and Education state income tax refund checkoff system.

* Condom Warnings: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 50-19 vote a bill (AB 3099) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to require lambskin membrane condoms to include a notice that they provide limited protection against the transmission of AIDS.

* Sexual Harassment: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 55-9 vote a bill (AB 2900) by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) to require colleges to have a written sexual harassment policy setting forth rules for reporting violations and possible disciplinary actions.

* High-Speed Rail: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 45-25 vote a bill (AB 3600) by Assemblyman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) to create a California high-speed rail commission to solicit proposals and determine routes.

* Telemarketing Solicitations: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 43-19 vote a bill (AB 3494) by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) to limit the hours of telemarketing solicitations to the hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

* Jazz Institute: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 44-21 vote a bill (AB 3061) by Assemblyman Willard Murray (D-Paramount) to establish an Institute for Preservation of Jazz at Cal State University Long Beach.

* Battered Women Syndrome: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 46-0 vote a bill (AB 3436) by Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to allow battered-women-syndrome evidence to be considered as a factor in granting prisoner clemency.

* Economic Development: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 45-24 vote a bill (AB 3105) by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) to set up a Cabinet-level Economic Development Agency directly reportable to the governor to find ways to attract new businesses to California.

* State Studies: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 64-2 vote a bill (AB 2874) by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Norwalk) to require state agencies to determine which studies now in progress can be terminated as long as there is no harm done to the public health, welfare or safety.

* African-American Males: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 44-30 vote a bill (AB 2760) by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to create a 15-member commission on the status of African-American males to conduct research on problems and make recommendations on how to solve them.

* Sibling Visits: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 64-0 vote a bill (AB 3332) by Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) to give brothers and sisters separated by social workers and placed with other families the right to visit one another.

* Farm Workers: Rejected by a 31-36 vote a bill (AB 3672) by Assemblyman Phillip Isenberg (D-Sacramento) to make farmers liable for wage and safety violations by farm labor contractors who provide the farm workers to harvest the crops.

* Higher Education Fees: Rejected on a 31-18 vote a bill (AB 2527) by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles) to charge higher fees for state university students seeking a second bachelor’s or graduate degree. Forty-one yes votes required for approval.

* African-Americans: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-29 vote a bill (AB 3402) by Assemblyman Willard Murray (D-Paramount) to establish a center for African-American educational excellence and achievement at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Bill Introduction

* Balanced Federal Budget: AJR 92 by Assemblyman Bill Baker (R-Danville) requests Congress to propose a U.S. constitutional amendment to require the total of all federal appropriations not to exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues in any fiscal year.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Local Term Limits: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-11 vote a bill (SB 1298) by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) to allow the voters to impose term limits on members of city councils and county boards of supervisors.

* Automobile Sales Contracts: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-6 vote a bill (SB 1533) by Sen. Ed Davis (R-Santa Clarita) to require auto sales contracts to include a notice that the buyer cannot cancel the contract after it is signed simply because he or she changes his or her mind.

* Campaign Commercials: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 34-0 vote a bill (SB 1803) by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) to require radio and television advertisements for or against ballot measures to disclose the source of 80% or more of campaign contributions.