Wilson OKs Democrats’ 8 Anti-Bias Bills : Discrimination: Package grants protection to pregnant women, the disabled, those with the AIDS virus, and victims of sexual harassment. Action is unclear on pending legislation that could affect gays.

Gov. Pete Wilson signed legislation Thursday protecting a number of targets of discrimination, including pregnant workers, the disabled, victims of sexual harassment and those who test positive for the AIDS virus.

In signing the package of eight Democratic bills, Wilson said, “Discrimination has no place in a just society.”

But the Republican governor gave no hint of what action he intends to take on more controversial bills by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) that would specifically outlaw discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation.

Last year, his veto of gay rights legislation touched off angry protests in the streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.

In a separate action, the governor also signed a pair of bills repealing at least $27 million in sales taxes imposed last year on California magazine publishers and the operators of oceangoing vessels as part of the budget-balancing process.

The governor said the tax on bunker fuel and on subscriptions to California-based magazines imposed a competitive disadvantage on the two industries. He said the loss of revenue to the state would be offset by tapping the small state budget reserve.

Heading the list of civil rights bills signed into law Thursday was a measure by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) that will restore the authority of the state Fair Employment and Housing Commission to levy fines and award victims of work-site racial and sexual discrimination up to $50,000 in damages.

Last year, the governor rejected a similar bill by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) on the grounds that it could impose an undue hardship on employers. That measure would have imposed fines and damages of $200,000.

Moore said her bill will ensure an administrative remedy through the commission for victims who cannot afford a lawyer to fight their cases in court. Further, she said, the new law will be “much less costly to employers than jury awards.”

Even so, the legislation drew criticism from Nancy Davis of Equal Rights Advocates of San Francisco, a law firm specializing in sexual discrimination issues. She said the governor’s signature should not be considered a complete victory for women because discrimination victims will receive no more than $50,000 “no matter how egregious the discrimination.”

Currently, victims of discrimination can only ask the commission for recovery from an employer of their out of pocket losses. From 1982-1990, the Fair Employment and Housing Commission awarded cash damages, but had to stop after the state Supreme Court ruled that the commission didn’t have the authority.

The governor also signed:

* Legislation by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) that will enable public school authorities to suspend or expel students who sexually harass their classmates. The Legislature was told that sexual harassment at middle and high schools is a worsening problem.

* A bill by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) that will require companies with 15 or more workers to reassign pregnant employees to less hazardous or strenuous tasks if the transfer can be reasonably done. Current law covers companies with five to 14 workers.

* Another bill by Speier requiring employers to post a Department of Fair Employment and Housing notice defining sexual harassment, employer liability and procedures for filing complaints.

* Legislation by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) to make state law conform with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act. It also adds Californians with mental disabilities to the categories of people protected against discrimination in housing and jobs.

* A measure by Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) that includes Californians who test positive for the AIDS virus as a class protected against discrimination in employment. Those with AIDS are already covered by current law.