Governor OKs Plan to Build Veterans Home

Gov. Pete Wilson has signed into law a bill to authorize the construction of a $31-million Southern California veterans home to be located in Barstow.

The new law stems from a bill (AB 848) authored by Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Carson), who said he had been trying to get the authorization for 10 years.

The federal government will provide $20 million and the state will provide the other $11 million from the sale of revenue bonds. The city of Barstow donated the site for the 400-resident home.

A 1,500-resident Northern California veterans home is located in Yountville in the Napa Valley.

GOVERNOR

Bill Signed

Rides to Work: AB 2109 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to require employers to provide fiscal incentives to employees who use ride-sharing or public transit instead of single-occupancy vehicles to get to and from work.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Los Angeles Riots: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 65-3 vote a bill (AB 50X) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to prohibit insurers from refusing to renew a policy solely on the basis of the civil unrest that resulted in a state of emergency in Los Angeles last spring.

Sexual Harassment: Passed and sent to the governor on a 48-25 vote a bill (AB 2264) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) to require that sexual harassment be part of mandatory workplace anti-discrimination posters and that pamphlets be distributed to workers informing them how to file sexual harassment complaints.

Lawyer Fines: Passed and sent to the governor on a 41-23 vote a bill (AB 2300) by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) to permit the State Bar of California to fine lawyers up to $50,000 in disciplinary cases.

Yosemite Park: Passed and sent to the governor on a 65-2 vote a bill (AB 2700) by Assemblyman William Baker (R-Danville) to authorize the issuance of a special Yosemite license plates for a $50 additional fee with proceeds used to preserve the scenic park.

Poison Control Centers: Passed and sent to the governor on a 47-25 vote a bill (AB 3103) by Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly (D-Sacramento) to require the manufacturers of poisonous consumer products to help pay the operating costs of poison control centers and prevent their closure.

SENATE

Floor Action

Riot Looters: Passed and sent to the governor on a 37-0 vote a bill (SB 2066) by Senate President Pro Tem David Roberti (D-Van Nuys) to make penalties for looting during a riot the same as penalties for looting during a state of emergency such as an earthquake or a flood.

Health Care: Passed and sent to the governor on a 21-12 vote a bill (SB 6) by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to establish a state health care plan to ultimately provide coverage for all Californians. The bill would establish a state commission to implement the plan.

Surrogate Parents: Passed and sent to the governor on a 21-13 vote a bill (SB 937) by Sen. Diane Watson to implement state regulation of the surrogate parenting process in which another woman agrees to bear the fetus of a woman who cannot bear her own child.

High-Speed Rail: Passed and sent to the governor on a 23-6 vote a bill (SB 1700) by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) to create a state commission to plan, promote and construct high-speed rail service in California.

English Only: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 21-17 vote a bill (AB 2440) by Assemblyman Xavier Becerra (D-Monterey Park) to prohibit employers from requiring employees to only speak English in the workplace unless there is a business necessity for it.

Automobile Insurance: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 23-1 vote a bill (AB 2078) by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) to require motorists to show proof of auto insurance if requested to do so by a law enforcement officer.

Hate Crimes: Passed and sent to the governor on a 24-1 vote a bill (SB 1078) by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) to make hate crimes an offense for which a public school student can be suspended or expelled.