Assembly OKs Bill to Allow New Tax on Pro Sports Events

A special tax could be levied on tickets sold to professional sporting events to help finance high school sports competition under legislation that has been narrowly approved by the Assembly.

A 42-27 vote, one more than the 41-vote majority required for approval, sent the bill (AB 238) by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) to the Senate.

County boards of education could impose a tax of not more than 7% on tickets to pro events, with the revenue to be used for high school sports, if two-thirds of the voters agreed with such a move.

Noting that some high schools are dropping sports because of a lack of funds, Alpert said the tax was fair because professional athletes learn their skills at this level.

Opponents argued that sports fans already have to pay too much money to see professional sporting events.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Gang clothing: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 57-4 vote a bill (AB 980) by Assemblyman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) placing the Legislature on record as favoring the adoption of reasonable dress codes by local school boards that are designed to prevent students from fighting over gang clothing.

* Antifreeze: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 47-23 vote a bill (AB 1550) by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) to require that a bittering agent be placed in antifreeze to reduce the number of poisonings of small children and animals.

* Carjacking: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 69-0 vote a bill (AB 6) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) to establish a new crime of carjacking punishable by three, four or six years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

* Sick leave: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-27 vote a bill (AB 158) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Brentwood) to require employers to allow their employees to use earned sick leave to care for ill children.

* Student suspensions: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-30 vote a bill (AB 1620) by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to require schools to allow suspended students to complete missed assignments and tests. The students also would receive full credit for satisfactory work.

* Sex offenses: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 72-0 vote a bill (AB 1663) by Assemblywoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) to prohibit city and county parks departments from hiring people who have prior sex offense convictions to be in charge of minors.

* Health care: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-27 vote a bill (AB 16) by Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) to set up a state commission to oversee any federally approved universal health care plan.

* Statehood: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-28 vote a resolution (AJR 3) by Assemblywoman Juanita M. McDonald (D-Carson) to put California on record as favoring statehood for the District of Columbia.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Terms of office: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 23-10 vote a bill (SB 2) by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) to allow local voters to approve term limits for members of city councils, county boards of supervisors and school boards. State legislators already are subject to term limits.

* Immigrant Affairs: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 24-11 vote a bill (SB 1027) by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to create a new state Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs to coordinate various programs.

* Ammunition: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-11 vote a bill (SB 1128) by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) to restrict magazines for center-fire rifles to 15 rounds and detachable shotgun magazines to six shells.

* Open meetings: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 28-4 vote a bill (SB 36) by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) to expand and strengthen provisions of the state’s open meeting act that regulates the conduct of members of local governmental bodies.