Volume 3, Issue 4, (February 28, 2000)

In This Issue:

Legislature Returns to Former Capitol Site for 150th Anniversary

Legislative Analyst Provides Critical Analysis of Governor Davis' Proposed Budget

Lawmakers Rush to Meet Bill Introduction Deadline

Legislature Returns to Former Capitol Site for 150th Anniversary

The state Legislature held a one-day special meeting in the former state capitol building in Benicia, California to celebrate the 150th anniversary of statehood. The ceremonial event highlighted significant progress made since legislators last met in Benicia. It was the first time women legislators cast votes in the historic building. While the rustic building offered few amenities, such as plumbing or heating, to legislators in 1853, the year 2000 drew a stark contrast, with many Senators and Assemblymembers bringing cell phones with them.

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Legislative Analyst Provides Critical Analysis of Governor Davis' Proposed Budget

The Legislature's independent Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill released her annual review of the Governor's proposed 2000-01 state budget. Although Hill predicted that an additional $4.2 billion would be added to the state budget through unanticipated revenues as a result of a very health economy, she offered sharp criticism of Governor Davis' education and transportation proposals.

Specifically, Hill criticized the Governor's plan to increase the budget for state university systems by six percent, while only increase K-12 and community college budgets by less than 2 1/2 percent. Further, she recommended taking $430 million in programs proposed by the Governor and placing them into block grants for use by school districts for teacher recruitment, staff development and increasing technology. Hill also said the budget fails to target the neediest schools in California, and that additional revenue should be spent to bring the state's per-pupil spending up to the national average.

Hill found fault with Davis' transportation proposals, suggesting his plan to spend $3.6 billion in future highway spending would require the Department of Transportation to hire up to an 8,000 engineers in the next two years.

Legislative hearings on the proposed 2000-01 state budget began last week in Sacramento, beginning the Legislature's months-long process of re-shaping the proposed budget into a single-budget bill that will be presented to the Governor.

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Lawmakers Rush to Meet Bill Introduction Deadline

February 25th was the last day to introduce bills in the 1999-2000 legislative session. Hundreds of bills have been introduced addressing public policy on many issues. Education, crime, consumer protection and health issues continue to dominate the public policy arena. The following outlines several proposals introduced.

Consumer Protection:

• AB 2721 by Assemblyman Herb Wesson (D-Los Angeles) would prohibit a solicitor from leaving a pre-recorded announcement, through an automatic dialing-announcement device, on consumers' answering machines or voice mail.

• SB 1626 by Senator Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) would authorize a one-time credit of up to $500 for the cost of a personal computer, printer, and access to the Internet.

• SB 1846 by Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco) would establish the Legislature's intent to prohibit oil companies that manufacture or refine gasoline products from operating a retail service station in California. The bill also state's intent to have the state purchase motor vehicle fuels from the fuel market in a manner that will benefit the people of the state.

• SB 2014 by Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco) would place a bond measure on the ballot to authorize a $75 million Child Care Facilities Financing bond. The revenues would be used to assist nonprofit corporations, state agencies, school district community college districts, colleges or universities, schools and local public agencies for construction, renovation or acquisition of licensed child care facilities.

• SB 2082 by Senator Jack O'Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) would prohibit manufacturers from using animal testing methods for consumer products where alternative test methods exist.

• SB 2150 by Senator Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) would allow a $350 tax credit for each child for taxpayers that spend at least $2,500 for child care.

• SB 2155 by Senator Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) would allow consumers to pursue a civil action against any telephone solicitor that refuses to provide the solicitor's business telephone number.

Crime/Public Safety:

• AB 2072 by Assemblyman Anthony Pescetti (R-Rancho Cordova) would require any person who is convicted of a sex offense and who is required to register with local law enforcement, to notify the campus police upon his or her enrollment at a community college or state university. Currently, notification of campus police is required only if the registered sex offender resides at a campus facility.

• AB 2101 by Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) would require the state to authorize news media access to state prisoners.

• AB 2190 by Assemblyman Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) would create the "Project Peacemaker" program. The bill would appropriate $100 million to fund the program, which would create and maintain county task forces to investigate and prosecute criminals who illegally possess or use firearms.

• AB 2228 by Assemblywoman Dion Aroner (D-Berkeley) establishes legislative intent to provide mental health and emotional disorder screening and assessment of juvenile offenders, and to provide mental health services for juvenile offenders at the local level.

• AB 2295 by AB 2171 by Assemblyman Dean Florez (D-Shafter) would require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to suspend the driver's license, for six months, of any person who is convicted of a controlled substance offense. Each subsequent offense would increase the suspension by six months for each convicted offense. For example, those convicted a third time for a drug offense would receive an 18-month suspension of their driving privileges.

• AB 2320 by Assemblyman Dick Dickerson (R-Redding) would require any person who is 21 years of age or older who is convicted of statutory rape to register as a sex offender with local law enforcement officials.

• AB 2342 by Assemblyman George House (R-Modesto) would impose a criminal penalty for a mother who gives birth to a child who tests positive for a controlled substance, and the mother willfully took the drug during her pregnancy. The legislation would not apply to controlled substances taken under the care and direction of a physician.

• AB 2437 by Assemblyman George Runner (R-Lancaster) would establish the DISARM program, and would provide $20 million to assist local law enforcement with enforcement efforts of firearms violations of parolees.

• AB 2623 by Assemblyman Rod Pacheco (R-Riverside) would require the State Department of Social Services to obtain criminal background information regarding a prospective foster parent from all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies prior to placement of a foster child with that parent.

• SB 1485 by Senator Richard Mountjoy (R-Arcadia) would make it a felony to publish, produce or duplicate any information, data or image of child pornography over the Internet.

• SB 1613 by Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton (D-San Francisco) would establish the Victim Recovery Center Program. The six centers to be established throughout the state would provide services to victims of violent crimes whom are otherwise not serviced by centers that assist victims of rape, domestic violence or child abuse. The measure states the Legislature's intent to appropriate $6.8 million for each center to operate for three years.

• SB 1866 by Senator John Vasconcellos would allow the seized proceeds and assets of drug traffickers to be used to reduce substance abuse. The bill would establish a substance abuse treatment fund that would be administered by the Department of Health Services.

• SB 1869 by Senator Hilda Solis (D-El Monte) would establish a program within the state's Office of Criminal Justice Planning to aid in the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse crimes.

Education:

• AB 1911 by Assemblyman Herb Wesson (D-Los Angeles) would require public schools to offer high school students the opportunity to receive elective credit for participation in community service projects.

• AB 1942 by Assemblywoman Sarah Reyes (D-Fresno) would commit $200 million to increase the number of computers in California classrooms, and to train teachers to use them effectively.

• AB 2060 by Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) would provide tax credits toward the purchase of a home for teachers who agree to serve in low performing schools.

• AB 2068 by Assemblyman Steinberg would require the Department of education to provide information to school districts about successful programs that help identify children with mental health problems, train teachers and provide mental health services and referrals. The bill would also require the Department to conduct a joint study with the Department of Mental Health to survey all California schools and evaluate the success of their mental health programs, to conduct a study of the public education efforts in Norway, and to provide a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2003.

• AB 2070 by Assemblyman Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco) would enact the Teachers Homebuyer Assistance Program to provide home loan assistance for teachers who work in low performing schools.

• AB 2154 by Assemblywoman Nell Soto (D-Pomona) would establish the Head Start in English Grant Program, and would provide $40 million in funding for qualifying schools to provide early morning classes in basic English skills. Classes would be held prior to the regular school day, and would be held for students in grades 1 through 8 who do not speak English.

• AB 2348 by Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego) would exempt college textbooks from sales and use taxes.

• AB 2376 by Assemblyman Ted Lempert (D-Palo Alto) and AB 2496 by Assemblyman Carl Washington (D-Compton) both would require the state to provide funding for the purchase of textbooks for students whose community college fees are waived because of demonstrated financial need.

• AB 2649 by Assemblyman Tom Calderon (D-Los Angeles) would increase public school teachers' salaries from the minimum $32,000 to $35,000.

• SB 1503 by Senator Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) would implement the Governor's Distinguished Merit Scholarships and Math and Science Scholars Program. This program, which is part of Governor Gray Davis' Merit Scholarship program, would reward students for outstanding achievement in math and science and would provide intensive supplemental Algebra instruction for 7th and 8th grade students.

• SB 1453 by Senator Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) would provide a state tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year for college-related expenses.

• SB 1504 by Senator Martha Escutia (D-Los Angeles) would provide incentives for California public schools to provide access to college level courses for students.

• SB 1787 by Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton (D-San Francisco) would establish merit scholarships which would be awarded to the top five percent of graduating high school seniors at each public high school based upon grade point average, advanced placement scores and the results of statewide achievement tests.

Elections:

• AB 2214 by Assemblyman Peter Frusetta (R-Hollister) would require voter registration cards to contain a space for registering voters to include their e-mail addresses.

Environment:

• AB 2471 by Assemblyman Howard Wayne (D-San Diego) would require the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide a biennial "State of the Environment" report to the Legislature. The report would have to be compiled through a cooperative effort with OPR, the state Environmental Protection agency and the state Resources Agency.

Health:

• AB 1887 by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) would provide a framework for small businesses to participate in a health insurance purchasing pool in order to provide health insurance to their employees.

• AB 2171 by Assemblyman Dean Florez (D-Shafter) would create a fund in which California's share of the nationwide tobacco litigation settlement would be placed. A portion of this fund would be used to provide a school nurse at each public school for the entire school day, when students are present.

• AB 2265 by Assemblywoman Dion Aroner (D-Berkeley would require health care service plans to provide coverage for the provision of end-of-life care for terminal patients and their families. Coverage would include education relating to the dying process for patients and their families, including pain management treatment options, physical and mental phases of dying, and training of family members to care for dying patients.

• AB 2554 by Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer (R-Newport Beach) would allow the owner of an apartment or rental home to refuse to rent or lease the dwelling to a person who is a registered sex offender.

• SB 1479 by Senator Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont) would authorize midwives to practice without the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon. Midwives would be required to have specific arrangements for obstetrical consultation, access to appropriate emergency medical services, transfer of care during the prenatal period and hospital transfer during intrapartum and postpartum periods.

• SB 1630 by Senator Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) would require health care service plans and insurers to provide coverage for treatment of infertility, including at least four complete cycles of non-experimental assisted reproductive technology. The bill would authorize up to a 20 percent co-payment for the cost of infertility treatment services.

• SB 2022 by Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco) would prohibit health care service plans from withholding coverage of medical care based upon a "pre-existing condition" for individuals seeking care for pregnancy or maternity care.

Information Technology:

• AB 1874 by Assemblyman Herb Wesson (D-Los Angeles) would allow for a fine of up to $100,00 or a prison sentence of up to 12 years for persons convicted of computer crimes that result in interruption or impairment of public communication, transportation, water supply, gas or power distribution or other public services.

• AB 2100 by Assemblyman John Dutra (D-Fremont) would enact the California Electronic Government and Information Act and establish the California Internet Portal Management Authority. The bill would outline the responsibilities of the Authority in administering, managing, maintaining and establishing policies for the use of the domain of the State of California on the Internet. The bill would also establish an Electronic Government Task Force to develop a strategic plan for electronic government.

• AB 2163 by Assemblyman Jim Cunneen (R- Campbell) would facilitate the development of a California Internet portal for access to state government Internet services. The bill would appropriate $100 million to fund the purchase of hardware, software and training of employees to implement the proposed "e-government" project.

• AB 2232 by Assemblyman Rico Oller (R-Roseville) would increase state fines and penalties for people convicted of computer crimes (hacking). Fines, which are currently up to $10,000, would be increased to up to $50,000. Prison sentences would be increased from the current misdemeanor 16 months, or felony two or three years, to a straight felony state prison sentence of two, three or five years in prison. SB 1817 by Senator Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles) would provide a tax credit for any taxpayer who provides, free of charge, an Internet connection and an Internet access device to a low-income household in California.

• SB 1818 by Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco) would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a DNA database for cases involving an unidentified deceased child or a child missing under suspicious circumstances. The DOJ would be required to match and compare samples of recovered deceased children with those of children who have been reported missing.

Telecommunications:

• SB 1741 by Senator Debra Bowen (D-Torrance) would require the Public Utilities Commission, pending the granting of authority from the federal government, to require telephone corporations operating in California to establish area codes based upon type of service, such as wireless phones or fax/data communications. The bill would also prohibit the PUC from approving any new area code splits or overlays unless technology-specific area codes have already been implemented in an area, and the need for additional phone numbers warrants a new area code.

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