Wilson Signs Bill Toughening Mammography Regulations

Legislation to toughen state law regulating mammography used for early detection of breast cancer in women has been signed into law by Gov. Pete Wilson.

The statute stems from a bill (AB 2841) sponsored by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) that swept through both houses of the Legislature with a minimum of opposition.

It calls for stricter state standards covering both mammography facilities and testing personnel, starting Jan. 1. Closer monitoring of the cancer-detecting test is needed, supporters said, because its use is expanding as incidences of the disease increase and because 25% of the facilities now operating in California are not registered with the state.

“During the 1950s one in 11 women was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Alpert said. “In the 1980s it was one in 10; now it’s one in nine. This is an epidemic with no cure in sight.”

GOVERNOR

Bills Signed

Riot Looting: SB 2068 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) to authorize the governor to offer a cash reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who commit looting or arson during a riot or state of emergency.

Disabled Parking: AB 2289 by Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando (R-San Pedro) to raise the fine to $250 from $100 for illegally parking in spaces for the disabled, and to require disabled drivers’ automobile license plates to bear a wheelchair symbol.

Burial Depths: AB 1981 by Assemblyman Dave Elder (D-Long Beach) to require coffins to be buried under at least 18 inches of soil and require permission to bury more than one coffin in the same grave.

Funeral Costs: AB 3746 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-S. San Francisco) to require funeral directors and embalmers to provide complete product and price information to people who request such cost data for comparison shopping purposes.

Peace Corps: AB 3260 by Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) to give people 55 and older a tax incentive to volunteer for the Peace Corps.

Los Angeles Floods: AB 29X and AB 30X by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to allow homeowners whose property was damaged by last February’s Los Angeles floods to carry over losses for five years for tax purposes, and to reimburse local governments for lost property tax revenues.

Child Abuse: AB 3633 by Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) to have the state Department of Justice gather information on fatal child abuse and neglect to try to prevent increases in the crime.

Grandparents’ Brochures: SB 1421 by Sen. Newton Russell (R-Glendale) to provide brochures to grandparents raising grandchildren who cannot live with their parents because they are at risk of child abuse, neglect or abandonment, or were born to substance-abusing mothers.

Holocaust: AB 32126 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to require high school social science classes to include the study of slavery and the Holocaust.

Imported Blood: AB 2286 by Assemblyman Dave Elder (D-Long Beach) to require all blood imported from out of state to comply with the American Assn. of Blood Bank standards.

Pesticides: AB 3395 by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to let the state suspend the registration of pesticides containing an ingredient not included on a list of 200 dangerous ingredients if there are no complete health studies as required by law.

Consumer Protection: AB 2676 by Assemblyman Gerald Felando (R-San Pedro) to authorize the state to fine persons who violate consumer product health and safety laws in lieu of taking them to court.

Colleges and Universities: AB 2258 by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to make it a misdemeanor for a business operation or group to use the term “college” or “university” in its name except under specified circumstances.

Bills Vetoed

Recycled Materials: AB 2446 by Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Fremont) to require the state to purchase more products made with recycled materials. In his veto message, the governor said the state should not spend more money on recycled materials while short on funds for health care and education.

Jazz Institute: AB 3061 by Assemblyman Willard H. Murray Jr. (D-Paramount) to authorize the establishment of an Institute for the Preservation of Jazz at Cal State Long Beach. The governor said he did not believe it was appropriate to use state funds for such a purpose, but said he would sign a bill that called for the use of only private funds. A Murray spokeswoman said the lawmaker is considering introducing such a measure next year.

Anti-Gang Program: AB 2311 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to provide a fourth year of funding for a Los Angeles anti-gang education program. The governor said a program evaluation failed to provide evidence of success and pointed out flaws that must be corrected.