Compromise Sought on Riot Redevelopment Bill

Legislation to speed up redevelopment of Los Angeles’ riot-torn areas has been sent to a two-house conference committee to try to hammer out a compromise satisfactory to the Assembly and the Senate.

The bill (AB 394) by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood), chairman of a special committee appointed to study post-riot needs, narrowly passed the Senate by a 27-5 vote, the exact two-thirds majority required.

But the Assembly refused to concur in Senate amendments to the measure by a 60-4 vote, which sent it to the conference committee.

Local officials would be given latitude to drop some of the usual redevelopment requirements for quick revitalization of areas damaged by the rioting that broke out after the not guilty verdicts in the Rodney G. King beating trial.

Senate officials estimated that rioters destroyed or damaged 1,053 structures worth $427 million in the city of Los Angeles and 5,200 structures worth $735 million throughout the county.

GOVERNOR

Signed into law a bill (AB 2487) by Assemblyman Byron D. Sher (D-Palo Alto) to allow local governments to pass safety ordinances requiring protective equipment for persons who use skateboard parks.

Signed into law a pair of bills (AB 26X and AB 25X) by Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Oakland) to provide tax relief for homeowners who suffered uninsured losses in the Oakland Hills fire, and replace property tax revenues lost by local governments because of the firestorm.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Cellular Phones: Passed and sent to the governor on a 57-0 vote a bill (AB 2465) by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) to make it a crime to tape-record cellular phone calls without the permission of everyone on the line. Violations could be misdemeanors or felonies, punishable by up to three years in prison or a maximum $2,500 fine.

Floating Casinos: Passed and sent to the governor on a 65-5 vote a bill (AB 3769) by Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Santa Ana) to prohibit gambling on U.S.-flagged ships between California ports. Several cruise ship companies were hoping to take advantage of a change in federal law that permits gambling on American vessels. But Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren objected and urged lawmakers to clarify existing laws that bar floating casinos.

New Jobs: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 51-13 vote a bill (AB 3094) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to grant state credits to businesses that expand their facilities at a cost of $10 million or more and hire a minimum of 50 new permanent employees.

Prison Deaths: Passed and sent to the governor on a 59-0 vote a bill (AB 2302) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) to allow the general public to review reports explaining the circumstances of the deaths of inmates in state prisons.

Committee Action

Offshore Oil Drilling: The Governmental Organization Committee approved a bill (AB 10) by Assemblyman Dan Hauser (D-Arcata) to ban all oil and gas drilling operations in state waters off the Northern California coast. A 6-3 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Auto Service Contracts: The Insurance Committee approved a bill (AB 3374) by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Norwalk) to implement regulation of auto service contracts purchased by buyers of new and used vehicles. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Campus Crime: The Education Committee approved a bill (AB 3739) by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) to allow public access to reports of crimes committed on college campuses. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

SENATE

Floor Action

Gubernatorial Confirmation: Confirmed on a 28-0 vote the governor’s appointment of James Strock as secretary of the state Environmental Protection Agency.

School Construction: Passed and sent to the governor on a 28-1 vote a bill (SB 34) by Sen. Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) to place a $900-million K-12 school construction bond issue on the November general election ballot.

Committee Action

Campaign Contributions: The Elections Committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment (SCA 4) by Senate Majority Leader Barry Keene (D-Ukiah) to restrict political campaign contributions and expenditures. A 5-3 vote sent the measure to the Assembly floor.

Health Care: The Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill (SB 308) by Sen. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland) to set up a state-run health care system for all Californians that would be financed by a 7% payroll tax on employers and a 1.5% income tax surcharge on middle- and high-income taxpayers. A 7-4 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Open Meetings: The Local Government Committee approved a bill (SB 1538) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) to strengthen the state’s Open Meetings Law that pertains to city councils and county boards of supervisors. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.