Wilson Signs Bill Creating Bank to Help Finance Road Projects

Gov. Pete Wilson has signed into law a bill designed to establish a special state-run bank to assist local governments in the financing of roads, sewers, water mains and other needs.

The $200 million needed for the legislation (AB 1495) by Sen. Steve Peace (D-Bonita) is contained in a pending bill (AB 638) by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) that would require voter approval on the November general election ballot.

Peace introduced the bank creation measure when he was an assemblyman. It passed the Assembly and Senate by 67-1 and 30-3 votes, respectively.

“California can make no better investment in its economy and business climate than to invest in its infrastructure,” the governor said. “After being needlessly delayed by bureaucratic turf battles, the opposition has finally recognized the immediate need for infrastructure that will help create jobs and a more friendly business climate.”

GOVERNOR

* Signed into law a bill (SB 25X) by Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) to prohibit parents who are registered sex offenders from having custody of their children or unsupervised visits.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Prison Terms: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 62-1 vote a bill (AB 66X) by Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) to prohibit a state prison inmate who has served a prior term for a violent felony conviction from earning more than 15% work-time credits toward reducing his or her sentence.

* Temporary Help: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-0 vote a bill (AB 1048) by Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) calling for a state study of temporary help agencies to determine if there are abuses of the state unemployment insurance system by their employees.

* Arson Deaths: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 63-0 vote a bill (AB 29X) by Assemblyman Bernie Richter (R-Chico) to require a prison sentence of life without the possibility of parole for setting fires that cause injury or death of 10 or more people or the destruction of 10 or more inhabited structures.

* Volunteer School Police: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence in amendments on a 62-0 vote a bill (SB 281) by Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino) to authorize local school boards to establish unpaid volunteer police reserve corps to supplement salaried school police forces.

* Child Molesters: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 65-0 vote a bill (AB 3273) by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) to set up a special unit within the Department of Justice to investigate sexual crimes committed against children.

* Child Molesters: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 65-1 vote a bill (AB 29X) by Assemblyman Richard Rainey (R-Walnut Creek) to increase fines for felony child molestation convictions from a maximum of $5,000 to a maximum of $10,000.

Bill Introductions

* Prisoner Release Money: AB 155X by Assemblyman Bill Hoge (R-Pasadena) would reduce from $200 to $50 the amount given to each released prison inmate by the state for rehabilitation purposes.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Homeless People: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-11 vote a bill (AB 1808) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-San Jose) to permit cities and counties to designate state armories to be used as emergency shelters by homeless people during the cold winter months.

Readers who wish to communicate with legislators regarding Assembly and Senate bills can write to them at the State Capitol Building, Sacramento, Calif. 95814.