Senate OKs Bill to Ban Job Bias Against Homosexuals

The Senate has narrowly approved controversial legislation to ban job discrimination against homosexuals similar to a bill vetoed last year by Gov. Pete Wilson that sparked statewide demonstrations.

A 22-11 vote, one more than the 21 votes required for approval, sent the measure (AB 2601) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) back to the Assembly for expected concurrence in Senate amendments. This would send it to the governor for his signature or veto.

Last year’s veto caused thousands of gays and lesbians to protest in the streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, charging that Wilson had bowed to political pressure from the far right wing of the Republican Party.

In his veto message, Wilson said he feared that the bill would lead to a flood of lawsuits filed against small businesses and that there was sufficient legal job protection for homosexuals.

GOVERNOR

Bills Signed

Teen-age Suicides: AB 2386 by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) to encourage junior high and high school counselors to be trained in how to help prevent teen-age suicides.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Truck Drivers: Passed and sent to the governor on a 50-28 vote a bill (AB 2417) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to cut the number of hours per week that truck drivers can be on the road to help reduce the possibility of highway accidents caused by fatigue.

Yew Trees: Passed and sent to the governor on a 61-9 vote a bill (AB 3756) by Assemblyman Byron D. Sher (D-Palo Alto) to establish a state policy on the management and use of the Pacific yew tree, a source of taxol, an anti-cancer drug being used to treat women who have breast and ovarian cancer.

Lead Testing: Passed and sent to the governor on a 53-16 vote a bill (AB 1659) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to require state testing of public schools to determine if lead levels in water, paint and soil are safe for the children who attend them.

Criminal Penalties: Passed and sent to the governor on a 68-0 vote a bill (AB 1611) by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R-Santa Rosa) to increase potential prison penalties for crimes committed against the elderly, the handicapped and children.

DMV Records: Passed and sent to the governor on a 41-30 vote a bill (AB 2543) by Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Fullerton) to allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to sell records for direct-marketing sales purposes.

Jazz Institute: Passed and sent to the governor on a 44-26 vote a bill (AB 3061) by Assemblyman Willard Murray (D-Paramount) to authorize the establishment of an Institute for the Preservation of Jazz at Cal State Long Beach.

Minority Health: Passed and sent to the governor on a 45-26 vote a bill (AB 136) by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) to establish a state task force on minority health affairs to hold public hearings and report back to the Legislature with recommendations.

Tax Hikes: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence in amendments on a 43-21 vote a bill (SB 1977) by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) to require local government legislative bodies to conduct at least one public hearing after at least 45 days’ notice before enacting any general tax increase.

Bicycle Helmets: Rejected on a 34-35 vote a bill (SB 1878) by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) to allow Orange, San Diego, Contra Costa and San Mateo counties to enact bicycle helmet requirement laws for minors 16 years of age and under.

SENATE

Floor Action

Riots: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 28-5 vote a bill (AB 38X) by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) to reimburse Los Angeles County for property tax revenues lost because of the rioting.

Bill Introductions: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 22-3 vote a resolution (SCR 87) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to limit the number of bill introductions in both houses of the Legislature. The resolution would limit senators to 65 bills and Assembly members to 40 bills per two-year session.

Committee Action

Civil Rights: The Appropriations Committee approved a comprehensive civil rights bill (AB 3825) by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) after removing a section that would have prohibited job discrimination against homosexuals in spite of the author’s objections. A 7-4 vote sent the bill to the Senate floor.