Governor Takes Final Action on Bills

By Monday, Gov. Gray Davis had completed action on the more than 1,400 bills the California Legislature placed on his desk.

These are a few more of the measures he recently signed or vetoed.

SIGNED

Electronic records--State agencies must provide journalists, lawyers and other interested parties public records in electronic format under AB 2799 by Assemblyman Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco). The measure also prevents state agencies from delaying or obstructing the inspection or copying of public records.

VETOED

Public records--Citizens would have been able to appeal denial of their public records requests to the attorney general, who would have written an opinion on whether the information should be made public. Davis said the bill, SB 2027 by Sen. Byron Sher (D-Stanford), would have set up a costly bureaucratic scheme without resolving the issue of denied access.

Jailhouse interviews--Legislation by Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) would have expanded media access to prisoners. Davis said AB 2101 would have allowed reporters “unlimited access” and said it was “inconsistent with the national trend to reduce, not expand, rights of prisoners.” Davis also said that according to prison officials, the bill would have disrupted “the orderly administration of prisons.”

Striking janitors--A bill by Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sylmar) was an attempt to protect striking janitors by requiring that they be kept on for 90 days even if the subcontractor employing them was fired. In vetoing SB 1877, Davis said that janitors “do some of the most difficult work there is,” but that the bill would set “a troubling precedent.”

Beer promotions--A last-minute bill supported by Anheuser-Busch would have allowed beer makers to increase to $1.50, from 25 cents, the value of key chains, caps and other promotional trinkets they give away. The microbrewery industry in California claimed that the bill by Assemblywoman Helen Thomson (D-Davis) would give major brand manufacturers an unfair advantage. Davis said he vetoed AB 2551 because it received “no opportunity for public comment.”

Civil rights--AB 2000 by Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) would have created a statewide Human Relations Commission to advise the governor and Legislature on race and ethnic issues. In his veto message, Davis said the 13-member commission was “well-intentioned” but “unnecessary and duplicative of powers and duties already granted to the Fair Employment and Housing Commission.”