Committee OKs Bill to Give DMV Offices Saturday Hours

Offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles would be open on Saturdays without additional costs by reducing the number of hours they are open on weekdays under legislation that has been approved by an Assembly committee.

A 16-0 vote sent the bill (AB 70) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Panorama City) from the Transportation Committee to the Ways and Means Committee for more screening.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Base Closures: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 64-0 vote a resolution (AJR 13) by Assemblywoman Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) asking President Clinton and Congress to keep Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo off the list of planned base closures.

Child Molesters: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 73-0 vote a bill (AB 25) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) to increase prison penalties for convicted child molesters who display so-called kiddie porn to their victims before abusing them.

Illegal Drugs: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 71-0 vote a bill (AB 42) by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) to increase prison penalties for people convicted of selling illegal drugs to pregnant women.

Committee Action

Offshore Gambling: The Governmental Organization Committee approved a bill (AB 74) by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) to permit casino-type gambling on cruise ships traveling in international waters between California ports. A 9-4 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Bill Introductions

Health Insurance: AB 1100 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) would prohibit health insurance companies from discriminating against HIV-AIDS patients and others with catastrophic illnesses.

Battered Women: AB 947 by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) would allow juries to find battered women who kill their abusers guilty of a lesser offense than first-degree murder.

Smoking Ban: ACR 27 by Assemblyman Phil Isenberg (D-Sacramento) would prohibit smoking in the Assembly and Senate chambers, all hearing rooms, offices, hallways and stairwells to protect against dangers of secondhand smoke.

AIDS: AB 925 by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) would allow taxpayers to designate part of their refunds for AIDS programs.

Term Limits: ACA 7 and AB 1025 by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) would allow state lawmakers to stay longer in office--state senators could stay for two six-year terms and Assembly members for three four-year terms.

SENATE

Floor Action

Gubernatorial Appointment: Confirmed on a 30-2 vote Gov. Pete Wilson’s appointment of former Republican Sen. James Nielsen of Rohnert Park to the State Board of Prison Terms.

Bill Introductions

Health Insurance: SB 590 by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) would prohibit health insurance companies from discriminating against HIV/AIDS patients and others with catastrophic illnesses.

University of California: SB 506 by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) states it is legislative intent for tenured University of California faculty members to teach an average of at least four semester courses during each academic year.

UC Regents: SB 504 also by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) would delete the authority of the University of California Board of Regents to hold closed-door sessions when they meet to consider the compensation and benefits of officials or employees.

Not Guilty: SB 522 by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) would delete the not guilty court verdict and replace it with not proven.

Tax Credits: SB 563 by Sen. John Lewis (R-Orange) would give tax credits to businesses that create new jobs by locating or expanding their operations in California. The credits would be limited to businesses that create at least 25 new jobs.

License Plates: SB 568 by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) would authorize the issuance of special “blue sky” automobile license plates for an extra fee to motorists who use clean air vehicles.