1983 Legislation

AAB 1207, Chapter 524, Statutes of 1983 Funding for Boating Safety - Requiring that revenues received for launching boats in state parks be earmarked in the General Fund for the State Parks and Recreation Department's use in boating safety and enforcement programs.

AB 1524, Chapter 647, Statutes of 1983 Community Colleges: Finance - States the Legislature's intent to reduce the disparities in revenues allocated to community college districts in the 1982-83 fiscal year and beyond.

AB 1600, Chapter 1094, Statutes of 1983 Balloon Mortgage Payments - Requires the holder of a balloon payment note which is secured by a mortgage or deed of trust upon residential property to give the homeowner written notice at least 90 days but not more than 150 days before the final payment is due.

AB 2035, Chapter 454, Statutes of 1983 Rebuilding Santa Monica and Malibu Piers - Permits the placement of structural pilings for public recreational piers in open waters within the coastal zone. When the winter storms wrecked the local piers in 1983, I succeeded in getting $1 million for repairs and this legislation which was necessary to permit the rebuilding in the coastal zone.

AB 2158, Chapter 1164, Statutes of 1983 Energy Conservation Tax Credit - Provided a continuing income tax credit for the installation of energy conservation measures on property owned by the taxpayer.

ACR 40, Reso. Chapter 106, Statutes of 1983 Disabled Veterans: Health Care Services - Requests that the Department of Health Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs jointly take action to address the health care problems of disabled veterans by seeking the cooperation of health care services in accepting VA's fee basis and authorizing actions.

AJR 22, Reso. Chapter 87, Statutes of 1983 Disabled Veterans: Health Care Services - Requests the President and Congress to direct the Veteran's Administration to improve the system by which private physicians receive reimbursement for treatment of disabled veterans.

AJR 15, Reso. Chapter 15, Statutes of 1983 Hazardous Waste Sites - Asks the President to direct the US Environmental Protection Agency to expedite the implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. It further requests a full investigation of the conduct of the Superfund program by the EPA.

AJR 28, Reso. Chapter 38, Statues of 1983 Neighborhood Watch Programs - Requests the President and Congress to enact the provisions of the 1983 Justice Assistance Act to assure that priority is given under the act for "neighborhood watch" crime prevention programs.

AJR 32, Reso. Chapter 84, Statues of 1983 Federal Student Financial Aid - Requests the President and the Congress to maintain federal student financial aid as a priority, to prevent further reductions in student aid funding.

The Community College Fee Battle, 1983-84.
My toughest battle as a freshman was leading the opposition to fees at community colleges, which had been tuition-free since their inception in California. It drove me crazy that state government was abandoning the right to a free public higher education. Under President Reagan and Gov. Deukmejian, the goal was to destroy these so-called liberal entitlement programs and begin making students pay. In my view, this would create a significant disadvantage for minority and low-income families. My fears were realized when, within a decade, the LA community college system alone lost 100,000 students because of the higher fees.
Ill-prepared to fight as a freshman, I forced a debate in caucus and a prolonged floor session that had us ordering take-out hamburgers late into the night. What I learned about the nature of the political machinery was disturbing. My friends at the community colleges, faced with threatened budget cuts, were all willing to raise revenue by "taxing" students through fees. And the Democratic leadership, while professing fidelity to the cause of free higher education, was all too willing to concede to a modest fee increase to the Governor rather than wage an all-out fight. Since students were powerless in Sacramento, their interest could be sacrificed most expediently.
There was a promise by the leadership that the first-ever fees would be temporary, until the recession had ended. But I knew that a cornerstone of the progressive agenda had been compromised for good.

 

1984 Legislation

AB 2312, Chapter 1669, Statutes of 1984 Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy - Authorizes the conservancy to award grants to activists in nonprofit organizations for improvements, maintenance, acquisition, or educational programs in the Santa Monica Mountains.

AB 2642, Chapters 1525, Statutes of 1984 Santa Monica Bay Revitalization Act - Requires the Department of Fish and Game to undertake a biological productivity study of the Santa Monica Bay for the purpose of making recommendations to the Legislature for increasing the marine life and sport fishing opportunities in the Bay. Creates the Santa Monica Bay Advisory Committee composed of 12 members who shall make recommendations for restoring the Bay.

AB 3066, Chapter 1035, Statutes of 1984 Protecting Hollywood Jobs - Requires the state Motion Picture Council submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature to include the council's budget, accomplishments, as well as an analysis of problems and barriers to motion picture production in California.

AB 3193, Chapter 814, Statutes of 1984 Right of Workers to Disclose Pay - Prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee for disclosing his/her wages.

AB 3396, Chapter 576, Statutes of 1984 Schools: Waiver Authority - Revises the authority to waive class size limitations for kindergarten from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the State Board of Education.

AB 3434, Chapter 753, Statutes of 1984 Agent Orange and Vietnam Veterans - Requires a death certificate to include any military service and the period served. Requires the State Department of Health Services to formulate implementation plans to utilize the California Tumor Registry in research on the effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam veterans.

AB 3443, Chapter 1480, Statutes of 1984 Expansion of Agent Orange Program - Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide referral for administrative, medical and compensation services of the United States Veterans' Administration. Requires the Department to follow up on its referrals to determine their satisfaction with the VA's Agent Orange services. Requires the Department to outreach to civilians who served in Vietnam regarding exposure to Agent Orange.

AB 3917, Chapter 1457, Statutes of 1984 Neighborhood Watch - Requires the Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) to conduct 3 regional neighborhood watch leadership and training conferences. The purpose of these conferences shall be to assemble volunteer citizen leadership in neighborhoods with active neighborhood watch programs to share their experiences in crime prevention and to assemble volunteer citizens to organize in new neighborhoods.

AB 3930, Chapter 1182, Statutes of 1984 Long-Term Health Care Facilities - Prohibits any owners or staff of long-term health care facilities from purchasing or receiving any item or property with a fair market value of more than $100 from a resident of the facility.

ACR 123, Reso. Chapter 30, Statues of 1984 Asbestos Awareness Week - Declares the week of May 21, 1984 as "Asbestos in the Schools Awareness Week" and requires the State Department of Education to conduct a campaign on the dangers of asbestos contamination in schools.

ACR 154, Reso. Chapter 109, Statutes of 1984 Hazardous materials - Requests the University of California to develop a plan to further research the health effects of hazardous substances and toxic materials in the environment.

1985 Legislation

AB 887, Chapter 452, Statutes of 1985 Kosher Food Record Keeping - Requires that any person who sells fresh meat or poultry which is advertised to be kosher retain records from the producer of the meat for one year to make these records available to the Department of Food and Agriculture. Additionally requires, as part of a pilot program, for the Director of Food and Agriculture to enforce these requirements in LA County until January 1, 1987.

AB 895, Chapter 633, Statutes of 1985 School Testing: Religious Accommodation - Requires California colleges and universities to permit a student to take tests at times when that activity would not violate the student's religious creed.

AB 1180, Chapter 1151, Statutes of 1985 Religious Discrimination in Employment - Prohibits an employer under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act from discriminating against an employee because of a conflict between the employee's religious belief or observance and an employment requirement unless the employer has explored reasonable means of accommodating the religious belief or observance and is unable make an accommodation without undue hardship.

AB 1177, Chapter 843, Statutes of 1985 Child Care Facilities: Community Colleges - Specifies that the construction of child development centers would be allowable under the Community College Construction Act of 1980.

AB 1418, Chapter 777, Statutes of 1985 UC/CSU Teacher Training - Requests the Regents of the University of California and requires the Trustees of the California State University to develop academic and budgetary plans for each campus operating programs in teacher education as well as educational research through the year 2000, including plans for increasing the numbers of under-represented minorities.

AB 1844, Chapter 1215, Statutes of 1985 Community Crime Resistance Program - Increases the maximum award to communities under the California Community Crime Resistance Program to $250,000 for a 12 month grant period for the purpose of combating crime and juvenile delinquency. Expands emphasis on programs protecting the elderly and prevention programs promoting neighborhood involvement.

AB 2274, Chapter 1309, Statutes of 1985 Tax Credit for Computer Contributions to Juvenile Halls - A 25% tax credit for contributing computers or other scientific materials to a California Youth Authority education program, to a juvenile court school, a school in a state prison or county jail or an educational program in a state hospital.

ACR 67, Reso. Chapter 124, Statutes of 1985 UC Anti-Apartheid Program - Requests the University of California to utilize the university's resources to further social justice, civil liberties and educational opportunities for Black and other oppressed South Africans, including a legal defense program.

ACR 73, Reso. Chapter 126, Statutes of 1985 Access to College Prep Classes - Requests the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with the Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the California State University to convene a Task Force on College Preparation, to make recommendations to ensure that courses required for admission to public universities be made available in all California public high schools, and ensure that under-represented students from Latino and black communities gain access to preparatory courses.

AJR 63, Reso. Chapter 60, Statutes of 1985 Emigration of Ida Nudel to Israel - Calls on the Soviet Union to allow the dissident refusenik Ida Nudel to emigrate to Israel. Also calls on the President and other federal officials to use all appropriate diplomatic channels to persuade Soviet authorities to allow her to emigrate.

Investigative Hearing on Toxic Pollution in Santa Monica Bay (May 17, 1985)

Tom Hayden, Chair, Assembly Task Force on Santa Monica Bay Pollution

These initial hearings revealed for the first time the systematic and massive pollution of Santa Monica Bay while state regulators did nothing. Sen. Hayden obtained $60,000 for studies of bay pollution. The hearings confirmed, however, that the regional board sanctioned the dumping of refinery and chemical wastes, radioactive materials and military explosives at 14 separate dump sites over several decades. Scientists at the hearings charged that the Bay was being poisoned by toxic substances including, DDT, cyanide and PCBs. The board's enforcement officer was fired and the executive director resigned soon after. (The LA Times, May 28, 1985).

 

1986 Legislation

AB 3409, Chapter 1465, Statutes of 1986 Community College Reform Act - Establishes task forces to be appointed by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to provide the Governor and Legislature with policy implementation proposals regarding community college financing, and faculty and administrator qualifications. Also requires the chancellor to conduct a study on developing and implementing a statewide program of education accountability. Appropriates $250,000 to the chancellor for costs.

AB 3411, Chapter 363, Statutes of 1986 Principal Training and Evaluation - Requires K-12 procedures for ongoing evaluation and training for administrators. The training and evaluation programs for administrators shall allow for diversity in development activities including small groups, self-directed learning and observation visits to other schools.

AB 3443, Chapter 314, Statutes of 1986 Training for Toxic Material Handlers - Requires that the community college vocational education programs include a priority training program for hazardous substances and waste management.

AB 3500, Chapter 1478, Statutes of 1986 California Ocean Plan - Requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt and periodically review a water quality control plan for ocean waters. In formulating the plan, the board shall develop bioassay protocols to evaluate the effect of municipal and industrial waste discharges on the marine environment. The plan shall be reviewed every three years, at a minimum, to assess if current water quality standards are adequate and not allowing for degradation to marine species or posing a threat to human health.

AB 3505, Chapter 761, Statutes of 1986 Health Warnings in Sportfishing Regulation Handbook - Requires the sportfishing regulations published by the Fish and Game Commission to include human health advisories for contaminated fish which are issued by the State Department of Health Services.

AB 3506, Chapter 1479, Statutes of 1986 Toxic Spill Reporting - Requires any entity which causes or permits any discharge of a hazardous substance to notify the State Water Resources Control Board or appropriate regional board in addition to the Office of Emergency Services. Also requires the discharge of sewage to be included in the reporting requirements. The state board or regional board is then required to list these notifications in the minutes of the next business meeting and to provide this information to local health officials.

AB 3666, Chapter 1305, Statutes of 1986 Tour Bus Safety - Requires a tour bus driver to have to operate a tour bus issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles in addition to a driver's license. A driver's certificate may be issued to applicants who are qualified through a DMV examination. Allows the DMV the ability to deny an applicant or to suspend or revoke a certificate.

AB 4233, Chapter 1303, Statutes of 1986 Ergonomic Purchasing Guidelines - Requires colleges and universities to consider human and ergonomic factors when they select and procure office equipment and related support equipment.

ACR 82, Resolution Chapter 112, Statutes of 1986 Pacific Rim Studies - Requests the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges develop a focus on the state's economic position in the Pacific Rim, and respond positively to immigrants from of Pacific Rim countries.

ACR 133, Resolution Chapter 79, Statutes of 1986 Student Debt Crisis - Directs the Student Aid Commission to study student loan debt and financing alternatives.

ACR 141, Resolution Chapter 115, Statutes of 1986 Value-added Assessments - Directs the Post-secondary Education Commission to study talent development, value-added and performance-based budgeting approaches to measuring and improving the quality of education.

ACR 153, Resolution Chapter 129, Statutes of 1986 Combating Illiteracy - Requests that appropriate governmental agencies report to the Assembly Office of Research on their efforts to deliver literacy instruction and referrals to persons 16 years of age and older. Further requires the Assembly Office of Research to compile the information and submit a report to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.

1986 Budget Item
$165,000 for study of toxic pollution in San Diego Bay.

1986- Witch Hunt: The Effort to Expel Tom Hayden from the Assembly
In 1982 and 1984, my campaigns for the Assembly were opposed by a right-wing coalition spearheaded by Republican superpatriots. They tried in 1984 to go to court to expel me from the Legislature for treason; the Court of Appeals threw out the case as "frivolous". But in June 1986, Orange County Assemblyman Gil Ferguson moved that I be expelled from the Assembly. After rancorous debate, the Assembly voted not to expel me, mostly on partisan lines.

I was astounded that many Republicans, and a couple of Democrats, said that they liked me personally but that this was political. They were willing to overturn the voters of my district, who had heard all of this and elected me nonetheless. "Nothing personal": the words remained with me.

In November 1986, Ferguson's "Oust Tom Hayden" PAC tried to defeat me, and lost. In January 1987, Ferguson's replacement Mickey Conroy asked the Assembly to refuse to take their oath of office with me. He was rejected.

Ferguson finally retired, and so did Conroy after being chastised for sexual harassment of a government employee.

As I said during the floor "trial", "The Republican Abraham Lincoln was called a traitor for opposing the Mexican War, so we shouldn't throw these terms around loosely for partisan gain...This resolution opens old wounds for nothing. We cannot snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. We cannot restore wasted lives with this vote today...I want to tell you, Mr. Ferguson, I am a patriotic American and no narrow-minded bigot can strip that away from me".

According to the Sacramento Bee, Robert K. Dornan "sat in the rear of the packed Assembly chamber uttering obscenities while Hayden spoke in his own defense. At one point, he began to take off his coat and nearly had a fight with one of Hayden's supporters ex-Marine helicopter pilot George Gorman, a disabled Vietnam Veteran".

 

1987 Legislation

AB 306, Chapter 136, Statutes of 1987 Community College Financing - Extends the sunset date for funding mechanism for California Community Colleges to become inoperative on July 1, 1989 and be repealed on January 1, 1990.

AB 746, Chapter 839, Statutes of 1987 Protections for disabled college students - Specifies principles that a state funded activity is required to observe to promote equal access for disabled students. Requires college and university officials to adopt rules and regulations and develop and implement a system for evaluating programs and services for disabled students.

AB 2016, Chapter 1296, Statutes of 1987 Higher Education Talent Development - Requires the California Post-secondary Education Commission to develop, implement and oversee a performance-based funding program.

AB 2053, Chapter 835, Statutes of 1987 Mental Health Outpatient Program - Requires specific aftercare plans for patients of mental facilities prior to their release, including assessment of present level of functioning, diagnoses including medications and dosage schedules, identification of specific programs and services so the person can minimize future confinement and receive treatment in the least restrictive setting.

AB 2061, Chapter 1136, Statutes of 1987 Community College Freeflow -
Provides that every resident of California has the equal opportunity to attend a community college of his or her choice. Prevents community college districts from restricting interdistrict attendance, and prohibits a district from engaging in outside recruitment which favors one high school over another.

AB 2081, Chapter 490, Statutes of 1987 Senior Peer Counseling - Requires counties, in their annual mental health planning process, to consider senior peer counseling in developing their mental health program.

AB 2576, Chapter 1238, Statutes of 1987 Community College Student Representation Fee - Authorizes students to collect fees for a statewide organization and lobbying in Sacramento on such issues as fees.

1987 Budget Item
Intent language that UC fully implement improvements in quality of teaching, training of teaching assistants.

 

1988 Legislation

AB 4037, Chapter 932, Statutes of 1988 Landfill Gas - Toxicity- Requires the California Public Utilities Commission to adopt a rule or order to specify the maximum amount of vinyl chloride that may be found in landfill gas. Prohibits a gas corporation from knowingly and intentionally exposing any person to gas that contains a chemical known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first warning the person. Requires testing of landfill gas at the point of distribution and requires review of those tests by the air pollution control district and the Department of Health Services.

AB 4129, Chapter 1317, Statutes of 1988 California State University - Loan Collection Contracts - Grants the Trustees of the California State University the ability to award contracts to contractors for the collection of delinquent education loans required to be paid under federal law.

ACR 39, Resolution Chapter 102, Statutes of 1987 Incentives for improving undergraduate teaching - Requests colleges and universities to adopt and enforce policies and incentives for improving teaching and to report to the educational policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature the actions taken towards implementation of this measure and the costs associated with full implementation.

ACR 41, Resolution Chapter 103, Statutes of 1988 English proficiency of teaching assistants - Requests the University of California take steps to ensure the English proficiency of its teaching assistants.

ACR 152, Resolution Chapter 145, Statutes of 1988 Video Display Terminals - Requests the Ad Hoc Committee on Video Display Terminals report to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board with proposals regarding the necessity for video display terminal related standards.

1988-99 Hearings on Meeting the Challenge of AIDS, final report May 1989: Tom Hayden, Chairman, Subcommittee on Higher Education. Recommendations:
* UC should increase its task force membership to include additional social/behavioral scientists as full participants as well as DHS and public health experts. (accepted)
* UC recruit gay and racial minority researchers. (accepted)
* UC increase the speed and accessibility of its drug trials without compromising research integrity (accepted).
* UC give greater attention to research and education on women with HIV.

1988 Budget Item
* Intent language requiring more independent oversight of the Livermore and Los Alamos nuclear labs with particular emphasis on protecting scientific inquiry and dissent.

The Turn Towards Initiatives: Prop 65 (1986) and Prop 99 (1988).
By the late Eighties, I had concluded that conventional politics - "working within the system" - was unworkable except at the margins. I had a voice, a vote, a mandate to speak out, and could create temporary majorities around single issues. But the Governor was conservative, a large faction of Democrats embraced the system of power, and special interest lobbyists had a real stranglehold on election campaign financing.

In 1986, therefore, I shifted to another model. In addition to working within the Sacramento system, I became committed to grass-roots initiative campaigns - taking policy decisions right to the voters themselves, circumventing the Sacramento process.

The Campaign for Economic Democracy (CED) a statewide grass-roots political movement which I helped found in 1979, was the perfect vehicle. It activists could go door-to-door. We could develop an anti-politics politics, as Vaclev Havel would later say.

Get Tough on Toxics" (Prop 65) We started with Proposition 65, an anti-toxics measure which required the state to identify cancer-causing chemicals, ban them from drinking water, and provide clear warning signs to employees and consumers. We were outspent 7-1, but the measure passed in November 1986 by 63%.

The promise of Prop 65 was thwarted, however, by Republican administrations who retained the power to appoint the scientific panels. So it, too, was a great disappointment. Was there no populist way directly around the established political bureaucracy?

"Tax Big Tobacco" (Prop 99) In 1988, there came a second opportunity, Prop 99, a tripling of tobacco taxes with the funds going to health care and anti-tobacco education programs. CED provided much of the leadership and organizational muscle, and Prop 99 passed with 57%, even though tobacco interests spent $20 million against our meager $1.3.

The fight to implement Prop 99 has been successful, though tobacco interests have used every devious trick imaginable to block its effect. The biggest gain was a 17% reduction in tobacco use in California over a five-year period, largely due to stinging anti-tobacco television advertisements funded with the industry's own money. In addition, at least $2 billion has been channeled into health care, especially for victims of tobacco addiction.

Sample Legislative Obituary, 1988 Bills by Assemblyman Hayden that Were Killed or Vetoed (just in case the reader thinks all my bills were signed).

*AB 3463 California Education Trust. Would have established a pre-paid tuition system in the face of rising college costs. Anyone would be able to invest in a kid's future education through pre-paying, in lump sum or regular payments, tuition at present levels. The funds would be invested along with the state's pooled pension funds, and the rate of return would absorb the future cost of university fees. Adopted in several other states, I tried several times to enact this legislation but was vetoed twice. The higher education lobbyists were concerned that the legislation would restrain future fee increases (which was false, but not a bad idea!). Eventually, eight years later, Republican Assemblyman carried a watered-down version of the program, calling it "ScholarShare". It helped with financing higher education, but lacked the guaranteed admission for all qualified and pre-paid students which I thought would appeal to inner city residents.

* AB 4039 Incentives for employers to expand employer-sponsored child care. Defeated.

* AB 4116 Requiring state armories be opened as shelters for the homeless in winter conditions. Defeated.

* AB 4119 Allowing non-profits to make deposits guaranteeing homeless people rental housing. Defeated.

* AB 4120 Requirement of asbestos warnings to employees in schools and universities. Defeated.

* AB 4122 Prohibition on Coastal Commission members engaging in political fund-raising activities. Defeated.
This started a war with Speaker Willie Brown, a war I tried to avoid at first. The problem was that Speaker Brown's appointee to the Coastal Commission in my region, Mark Nathanson, was shaking down coastal applicants for campaign contributions and I didn't like it. He also was a pro-development vote on the Commission which enabled the Governor, with his pro-development appointees, to wield an effective majority on nearly all environmental matters.

 

1989-'90 Legislation

1989

ACR 83, Resolution Chapter 149, Statutes of 1989 Tienanmen Square Students - Requests that California public colleges and universities provide assistance to citizens of the People's Republic of China who have been studying in California and fear returning to the danger and repression in their country related to the massacre at Tienanmen Square in Beijing.

1989 Budget Items
* allowing Sand and Sea Club to remain at Santa Monica Beach site until a new concessionaire obtains zoning and other permits and requires monthly payments of $20,833. Same language included the following year.
* $100,000 for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, matching funds for $933,000 in federal dollars.
* Purchase of Lower Zuma Canyon in Santa Monica Mountains
* $300,000 for restoration of trout habitat at Malibu Creek by removing Ringe Dam.
* Intent language encouraging universities to waive nonresident tuition for South African refugees

1990

AB 109, Chapter 1613, Statutes of 1990 Medical Waste Management Act - Authorizes cities to implement a medical waste management program and to be the enforcement agency for that program under the Department of Health Services. Requires registration of medical waste generators and imposes penalties upon persons who haul, transport, store, treat or dispose of medical waste in violation of the act.

AB 1720, Chapter 634, Statutes of 1990 Police Corps - Requires the Office of Criminal Justice Planning to study the police corps scholarship concept and determine what steps need to be taken to receive federal funding for such a program in California. OCJP would then report its findings to the Governor and Legislature.

AB 3087, Chapter 1571, Statutes of 1990 Sentence Enhancement for Multiple Burglaries - If there are multiple charges of taking, damage, or destruction of property in the commission felony, and the aggregate losses to the victims from all felonies committed exceed $25,000 or $100,000, the court shall impose an additional term of 1 and 2 years respectively.

AB 3397, Chapter 1573, Statutes of 1990 Student Role in Education Planning - Adds 2 student positions to the California Post-secondary Education Commission to be appointed by the Governor.

AB 3826, Chapter 1033, Statutes of 1990 Crane Safety - Requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to establish a safety inspection program for all tower cranes, with worker-designated safety engineers trained to inspect tower cranes and maintain sufficient personnel to conduct inspections. Prohibits a tower crane from being operated at a worksite without a permit from the OSHA, and sets penalties for violations of crane safety standards.

ACR 149, Resolution Chapter 97, Statutes of 1990 UC Recycling - Requests the University of California to develop and implement integrated solid waste management programs.

1990 Budget Items
* Intent language that UC students have the right to assess themselves voluntary fees for student organizations such as the California Public Interest Research Group.
* Directing universities to (1) post notices on all buildings, with priority on risky buildings, with information concerning safety and response to earthquakes, and (2) prioritize earthquake safety retrofitting of presently unsafe buildings in their capital outlay plans.
* Require UC, as manager of nuclear weapons labs, to play more active role in protecting public health and environment.

 

1991 Legislation

AB 42, Chapter 7, Statutes of 1991 Garment Workers Safety - Requires garment manufacturers to demonstrate by oral or written examination, knowledge of state laws and regulations relating to occupational safety and sign a statement regarding workplace safety. Requires any local public fire agency to notify the Division of Occupational Safety and Health if a place of employment where garment manufacturing takes place contains fire or safety hazards.

AB 617, Chapter 1198, Statutes of 1991 Master Plan for Higher Education - Updates the goals of the Master Plan for Higher Education to meet the needs of projected enrollments in the 21st century and to seek to enroll a student body that meets high academic standards and reflects the cultural, racial, geographic, economic and social diversity of California.

AB 1808, Chapter 741, Statutes of 1991 Higher Ed Accountability - Requires the University of California, The California State University and the California Community Colleges to prepare a list of reports submitted on a regular basis to the legislature. The California Post-secondary Ed. Commission would be required to review and comment on these reports and make recommendations for reporting requirements and submit a report to the Legislature and Governor regarding the performance of higher education institutions.

AB 1742, Chapter 1227, Statutes of 1991 Pesticide Data Gaps - Sets new 1992 deadlines for overdue data from chemical companies concerning active pesticide ingredients. In cases where the Department of Pesticide Regulation waives the data requirement, there may be an appeal to a panel appointed by the Department of Health Services, the EPA and the University of California.

AB 2055, Chapter 853, Statutes of 1991 Foreign Student Fees - In response to Tienanmen Square and pleas from South African students, this legislation allowed international students enrolled in a state government legislative or executive fellowship program be entitled to resident classification at the California State University for purposes of tuition. While also allowing 50% fee increases at community colleges for residents of foreign countries, the law exempts fees from any student who can demonstrate economic hardship or is a victim of persecution or discrimination in their home country.

AB 1090, Chapter 1023, Statutes of 1991 Renewable Energy Resources - Requires the Public Utilities Commission to set aside a specific portion of future electrical generating capacity for renewable energy resources.

1991 Budget Item
* Directs Student Aid Commission to reduce loan fees charged to financial aid recipients.

 

1992 Legislation

AB 2258, Chapter 784, Statutes of 1992 Anti-Fraud in University Accreditation - Prevents SOKA University or any for-profit institutions from utilizing the terms "college" and "university" in a deceptive manner that may convey the organization to be an accredited institution of higher education.

AB 3316, Chapter 930, Statutes of 1992 Increased penalty for sales of drugs to kids - Enhanced prison term of one year for selling drugs to kids eleven years old and younger.

Statutes AB 3395, Chapter 764, Statutes of 1992 Requiring health effects data on pesticides - Requires the Director of Pesticide Regulation to suspend the registration of any pesticide containing an active ingredient for which the pesticide corporation has failed to respond appropriately or show that it is taking steps to secure the data required.

AB 3396, Chapter 931, Statutes of 1992 Stopping Chop Shops - Makes it a "wobbler" to knowingly own or operate a "chop shop."

ACR 62, Resolution Chapter 110, Statutes of 1991 Health effects from UC Nuclear Labs - Declares that state agencies including the UC should not accept financial liability for environmental damage caused by radiation or other toxic hazards arising from the operation of the Lawrence Livermore nuclear laboratories, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory or Los Alamos nuclear laboratories. Also states that no contract for nuclear lab management be entered into which would subject the state to any such liability.

AJR 15, Resolution Chapter 9, Statutes of 1991 Iraq War - Urges Congress to consider enacting health benefits and tuition waivers to aid California residents serving in support of Operation Desert Storm. (Parallel resolutions calling for a national commitment to energy conservation and a negotiated end to the conflict in the Persian Gulf were defeated).

AJR 17, Resolution Chapter 22, Statutes of 1991 Reducing test barriers to college financial aid - Urges the President and Congress to strike down federal regulations requiring passage of standardized tests or high school diplomas, instead of ability to benefit, before seeking college financial assistance.

AJR 46, Resolution Chapter 90, Statutes of 1991 Federal Higher Education Act - Urges the President and Congress to take action to reauthorize the Higher Education Act of 1965, including increased grant assistance for needy students and expanded efforts at enrollment and retention of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

ACR 24, Adopted 1991 Sierra Summit - Proclaims the Assembly's support for the Governor's proposed Sierra Summit in 1991 to examine Sierra Nevada issues including air and water pollution, soil conservation, housing development and logging practices.

1993-'94 Legislation

1993

SB 504, Chapter 1290, Statutes of 1993 Requiring Open Meetings for UC pay raises - Prohibits the University of California Regents from taking action in closed sessions with regards to compensation for principal officers of the regents and officers of the university.

SB 506, Chapter 776, Statutes of 1993 Greater Emphasis on UC Teaching Undergraduates - States the Legislature's intent that UC faculty alter their workload by increasing the number of courses that are required for normal progress toward a baccalaureate degree, and increase the emphasis on smaller classes.

SB 612, Chapter 710, Statutes of 1994 Sexual Harassment - The first extension of sexual harassment codes beyond the workplace to include "professional" relationships. Makes a person liable for sexual harassment in relationships including physician-patient, teacher-student, attorney-client, and landlord tenant.

SB 613, Chapter 254, Statutes of 1993 SM Mountains Conservancy - Adds an additional member to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee to be jointly appointed by the City Council of the Cities of Calabasas and Malibu.

SB 761, Chapter 644, Statutes of 1993 MTA Conflicts of Interest - Responding to MTA alternative board members voting on contracts that benefit contributors to a regular board member, this prevents an alternate member from attempting to use his or her appointed position to influence an MTA decision in which the alternate member knows or has reason to know that the regular member has a financial interest.

1994

SB 1927, Chapter 1009, Statutes of 1994 Enforcement against selling tobacco to minors (STAKE) - Establishes and funds the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement Act or "STAKE" Act which is an undercover enforcement program carried out by youth against tobacco retailers under direction of the Department of Health Services. Requires the DHS to report to the federal government on the success of its efforts in limiting youth access to tobacco.

SB 2097, Chapter 834, Statutes of 1994 Higher Education Whistleblower Protection - Allows a California State University employee or applicant for employment to file a written complaint alleging actual or attempted acts of reprisal for having disclosed improper governmental activities. Allows for the injured party to bring liability charges against the offending party with a fine of up to $10,000.

SB 2098, Chapter 919, Statutes of 1994 Enhanced Penalty for robbery at ATMs - Provides that every robbery of any person while using an automated teller machine or immediately after the person has used the ATM and is in the vicinity of the ATM, is first degree robbery.

SR 12, Adopted 4/22/93 Required Public Hearing on UC Regent Nominees - Adds Senate Rule 13.9 to the Temporary Standing Rules of the Senate which prevents a vote to confirm an appointment by the Governor to the Regents of the University of California unless the Rules Committee determines that the Governor has convened a public advisory committee and the advisory committee has held at least one public meeting.

SR 27, Adopted 9/8/93 Preventing "Stealth" Bills from Being Placed on the Consent Calendar - Adds Senate Rule 28.3 to the Temporary Standing Rules of the Senate which provides that if a Senate or Assembly bill is amended in the Senate to create a new bill or to rewrite the bill, a standing committee shall not place the bill on its consent calendar and shall not report the bill out of the committee for the consent calendar for the floor.

Blocking Rousselot Appointment
September 2, 1993: Gov. Wilson abandoned the nomination of John Rousselot to the state Board of Prison Terms after Sen. Tom Hayden stalled the confirmation. Hayden had investigated Rousselot's role in the nationwide savings and loan scandal.

SR 28, Adopted 4/21/94 Requiring Return of Amended Bills to Original Policy Committee - Adds Senate Rule 28.4 to the Temporary Standing Rules of the Senate which provides that if a Senate bill or Assembly bill is amended to create a new bill or rewrite the bill in the Appropriations Committee, the committee shall report the bill to the committee on Rules for referral to an appropriate policy committee.

Blocking UC Regent Appointment (1994)
For the first time in 100 years, the Senate rejected a Governor's nominee to the UC Board of Regents, Lester Lee. Sen. Hayden's investigation showed that Gov. Wilson had stacked the UC Regents with Republican businessmen and contributors in violation of the constitutional mandate that it be independent and free of partisan influence.

 

1995-'96 Legislation

1995

SB 169, Chapter 641, Statutes of 1995 Domestic Violence as a Crime the First Time - Requires that domestic violence be recorded as a crime/misdemeanor on the first offense instead of diversion without conviction. Treatment program required as condition of probation, for minimum period of 36 months and successful completion of a batterers treatment program for at least one year with periodic progress reports made to the court.

SB 221, Chapter 411, Statutes of 1995 Crime Victims' Right to Notification of Plea Bargaining - Requires a district attorney's office to notify a victim of a violent crime or felony as soon as possible of an agreement with the defendant to plea bargain.

SB 248, Chapter 75, Statutes of 1995 Lifeline Utility Rates for AIDS patients - Adds compromised immune systems or life-threatening diseases to the existing medical conditions that qualify a person for low cost gas or electricity for medical purposes.

SB 699, Chapter 412, Statutes of 1995 LAUSD Breakup Guidelines - Provides requirements for petitioners who would restructure the Los Angeles Unified School District, including maintaining existing education reforms like LEARN and Charter Schools, protection of US voting rights standards, civil rights protections under court consent decrees Crawford and Rodriguez, and union and pension rights. This law is joined to AB 107 which specifies election procedures for breakup efforts.

SB 727, Chapter 518, Statutes of 1995 (Polanco & Hayden) - Transfer of $50 million from MTA to County Health Care.

SB 1555, Chapter 865, Statutes of 1995 UC Irvine Fertility Clinic Scandal - Human egg and embryo theft.  Makes it felony to intentionally transfer or implant ova, sperm or embryos without the signed written consent of the donor and recipient.

SB 1883, Chapter 849, Statutes of 1995 Charter Schools - Authorizes up to 12 independent charter schools in LAUSD.

SB 2164, Chapter 846, Statutes of 1995 Prohibiting Date Rape Drugs - Includes Rohypnol (ruffies), known as the date-rape drug, in the Schedule IV controlled substance list, making it a felony/misdemeanor for the sale or possession of the substance.

SB 7X, Chapter 8, Statutes of 1995, 1st Extraordinary Session Flood Insurance - Places limits on state disaster assistance for persons required to obtain flood insurance but who have canceled or allowed their insurance to lapse. Assistance is limited to the extent that the assistance could be used as a substitute for insurance proceeds that would have been available if the person had maintained the required insurance.

SCR 7, Chapter 66, Statutes of 1995 Family Planning Clinic Violence - Denounces the violence against health care providers at family planning clinics and urges the Governor, Attorney General and all law enforcement officials to take all steps necessary to protect and secure citizens and clinics from this violence and threat of violence.

1996

SR 41, Adopted 6/27/96 UC Admissions Favoritism - Affirms that the admissions process at the University of California must be free from political influence and favoritism toward major university donors, and requires that any university official receiving requests for admissions or recommendations from major donors disclose those requests or recommendations along with information relating to the disposition of those requests to the Office of the President.

Orange County Bankruptcy Hearings (1994-1995)
"The criticism has been most pointed against the (Orange County) committee's chairman, former Orange County Supervisor Bruce Nestande. In a letter to fellow lawmakers last week, state Sen. Tom Hayden criticized Nestande for receiving $40,000 in contributions from bond and security firms during his political tenure". (The LA Times, Feb. 20, 1995)"The Senate Local Government Committee approved a measure Thursday by Sen. Tom Hayden to put strict contribution limits on Wall Street firms, install oversight boards to review decisions by county treasurers, make brokers disclose risky investments and require treasurers to provide their governing boards with monthly 'risk assessment' reports." (The LA Times, Mar. 31, 1995)

UC Irvine Fertility Clinic Scandals (June 15, 1995)
Tom Hayden chairman, Senate Select Committee on Higher Education
Under subpoena, UC Irvine officials and medical doctors were questioned regarding fraudulent procedures in handling fertility procedures. The medical doctors were dismissed and later indicted. They are out of the country. The fraudulent practices were prohibited in later legislation by Sen. Hayden.

* Preventing $20 Million in FEMA Funds to Cement Las Flores Creek (1995)
Failing to heed warnings against further development in landslide areas, Malibu officials sought to obtain emergency funds to grade 500,000 cubic yards of soil and fill a free-running creek with cement, forever altering the character of another natural watershed in Los Angeles County. Sen. Hayden took the brunt of attack from Malibu and, with Congressman Tony Beilenson, argued successfully that it was an inappropriate federal bailout of local mismanagement and land-use planning.

El Monte Slave Shop Hearings (July-August 1996)
With the leadership of Sen. Hilda Solis, Sen. Hayden helped expose the semi-slavery conditions of Thai and Latino immigrants in a hidden El Monte sweatshop. Sen. Hayden climbed over the barbed wire walls to enter and inspect the facility. As a result of the hearing, the state augmented the budget for enforcement. A worldwide campaign against sweatshops was strengthened by the El Monte hearing.

* Saving St. Vibiana's Cathedral from the Wrecking Ball (1996) - After the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake, the Archdiocese attempted to demolish the oldest building in Los Angeles, the Cathedral of St. Vibiana, to make way for commercial development. The earthquake damage was intentionally magnified, with the collaboration of city redevelopment officials. The Cardinal, the Mayor, and elected officials from the area all favored demolition. With the support of local conservationists and the Catholic Worker movement, Sen. Hayden blocked passage of a land-use "reform" bill (AB 1056, supported by Assemblyman Caldera and Sen. Polanco) which would have permitted the demolition as well as giving a ten-year exemption from key environmental laws for the entire downtown area. The bill died in Sen. Hayden's Natural Resources Committee by one vote, his own. Two years later, the still-preserved St. Vibiana's was sold to a private developer and will become a downtown cultural and historic center.

 

1997-'98 Legislation

1997

SB 89, Chapter 657, Statutes of 1997 Limits on MTA Contributions - Disclosure of Workplace Injuries - Limits MTA Board Members from accepting gifts or contributions of over $10 in value from any business entity seeking or doing business with the MTA. Bars for four years any MTA Board Member from participating or influencing a contract decision after knowingly accepting any gift or contribution of over $10 in value from the business entity seeking the contract. Requires all construction firms contracting with the MTA to report to the agency on a monthly basis all recorded injuries requiring treatment beyond first aid and requires the MTA to base its construction safety program on a recordable injury standard.

SB 316, Chapter 811, Statutes of 1997 Student Tutors in After-School Programs - Establishes the Student Academic Partnership Program to enable school districts to provide pre-service training to prospective teachers and to secure college students as tutors for students in grades K-6 in low income areas that have high dropout rates. $10 million.

SB 514, Chapter 582, Statutes of 1997 Irish Famine Education in K-12 Curriculum - Expresses the Legislature's intent that teachers be provided with content background and resources to assist in teaching about the Great Irish Famine of 1845-50. Requires that the Great Irish Famine be considered in the next cycle in which the history/social science curriculum framework and instructional materials are adopted.

SB 526, Chapter 907, Statutes of 1997 Tattoo Removal For Jobs - Requires the Youth Authority to purchase two medical devices that utilize a laser to remove tattoos free of charge for individuals seeking employment. One to be placed in Los Angeles County and one within San Francisco Bay area counties, within community facilities open to at-risk youth. (In the following year, another $500,000 was included in the budget for two more machines, totaling $750, 000 from the General Fund for the purchase of the devices. Requires the department report to the Legislature on the progress of the program by March 1, 2000.

SB 812, Chapter 667, Statutes of 1997 Fee exemptions for paratransit vehicles for seniors and disabled persons - Provides the same weight and license fee exemptions currently granted to such vehicles bought with federal money, saving paratransit operators hundreds of thousands of dollars.

SB 1189, Chapter 815, Statues of 1997 MTBE Drinking Water Protections - Requires the Department of Health Services to adopt a primary drinking water standard (health) by July 1, 1999 and to adopt a secondary drinking water (taste) standard on or before July 1, 1998. Additionally requires each Regional Water Quality Control Board to notify public water system operators of MTBE discharges in that region and requires the State Water Resources Control Board to create two pilot projects that would map existing leaking underground tanks and drinking water wells in the pilot areas. Creates $5 million emergency loan fund for local clean up. Requires the scientific advisory panel of the California Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Prop 65) to recommend whether MTBE should be listed as a carcinogen or reproductive toxin on or before January 1, 1999.

Blocking Another UC Republican Regent (1997)
With agreement of Sen. Leader Bill Lockyer, the Senate rejected the appointment of the state Republican Party chairman, Tirso del Junco, to the UC Board of Regents.

1998

SB 1530, Chapter 963, Statutes of 1998 Holocaust Survivors Insurance Claims - Requires suspension of state license of any insurer or its California affiliate who has failed to pay the claim of a Holocaust survivor until valid claims have been paid. Provides $4 million to the Department of Insurance for archeologists, economists, attorneys, accountants, and other specialists both here and in Europe for research and investigation into insurance policies and unpaid insurance claims. Requires establishment of oversight committee. Specifies that no committee member or contractor with the Department can have conflicts of interest concerning Holocaust claims.

SB 1697, Chapter 795, Statutes of 1998 SAT Prep for Low- and Moderate-Income Students - Creates a $10 grant program through the State Department of Education for college admissions test prep in schools for low-income high school students. Provides flexibility for schools to put on in-house programs or contract out with private test prep providers. Gives priority to schools with large numbers of low income students or low college going rates.

SB 1956 $50,000 Task Force Funding for Preservation of Sacred Springs - Created a planning task force to protect the Gabrielino/Tongva Sacred Springs on the campus of University High School.

SB 1700, Chapter 842, Statutes of 1998 Tattoo Removal, Jobs and Crime Prevention - Expands the tattoo removal program created by SB 526. Clarifies that state violence prevention grants should go to neighborhood-based organizations to work with youth detained in juvenile facilities. Also funds four new tattoo removal lasers for Fresno, San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

SB 1785, Chapter 752, Statues of 1998 Protections for Lost Animals in Shelters - In response to 65,000 dogs and cats being put to death in Los Angeles shelters alone, this law requires longer holding periods for stray or lost pets, and flex-hours (evenings or weekends) to accommodate owners seeking to retrieve their animals.

SCR 81, 1998 Sister State Relationship between California and San Salvador - Over 400,000 Salvadorans live in Los Angeles County, largely as a result of US intervention and civil war in the 1970s-80s. This resolution officially establishes a bridge of cooperation between California and the estado of San Salvador in the fields of education, trade, culture and law enforcement.

SR 15, 1998 Benefits for Filipino WW2 Veterans - Urges President and Congress to provide full recognition and benefits for Filipino veterans of US armed forces in World War II.

SB 1435, 1998 Reducing Start-Up Fees for New Small Businesses - Cuts in half the $1,400 in fees required by the state of small businesses for the "privilege" of opening. The fees grew as a mechanism for balancing state budgets.

Supporting the Hollywood Entertainment Museum
$2 million budget item for education and outreach to students.

Corcoran Prison Brutality Hearings (July-August 1998)
Sen. Hayden uncovered an official Corrections memo which showed that internal findings of a cover-up of brutality were deleted from a final version and from a press release issued by prison authorities. As a result of the hearings into guard shootings of inmates at Corcoran, legislation establishing an independent inspector general was passed and signed by the Governor.

Toxic School Hearings (Sept. 23, 1998 through October 25, 1999)
Sen. Hayden uncovered evidence that Jefferson Middle School was falsely certified as safe to open because of misleading information about polluted soil provided state regulators by the LAUSD. Under oath, state officials changed their testimony to declare that they could not judge the school to be safe for students. By then, the school already had opened and remediation was necessary while students were attending classes. Sen. Hayden also discovered that a vapor extraction technology designed to protect students from carcinogens had failed to work for over six months. As a result, the regional air quality board cited the school district for 113 permit violations, but imposed no financial or other penalty.
Sen. Hayden also jointed Chairman Scott Wildman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee investigating Belmont, and held hearings as well on public health dangers at South Gate, Towne Elementary in Carson, and Polytechnic High in the San Fernando Valley, the latter two sites rife with cancer clusters.
Sen. Hayden also exposed a behind-the-scenes effort by LAUSD employees to undermine a toxic clean up bill (May 21, 1999), resulting in resignations by those responsible at the District.

 

1999 Legislation

SB 60, Chapter 415, Statutes of 1999 Greater Accountability and Conservation by Metropolitan Water District - In response to a corruption scandal at the Met, this law requires establishment of an office and code of ethics covering issues as conflicts-of-interest, campaign contributions, etc., and mandates the increase efforts at water conservation.

SB 130, Chapter 245, Statutes of 1999 Requiring Sale of Trigger Locks with Guns - After failing the previous year, this legislation is aimed at protecting children in particular from fatal accidents in the handling of weapons at home.

SB 306 Training Parent Advocates for Schools - The "Tom Hayden Parent Advocacy Program" is incorporated in a broader parent involvement package. Designed especially for immigrant parents, the program offers a 9 week course providing parents with knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the school decision-making.

SB 951, Chapter 673, Statutes of 1999 Protecting State Whistleblowers - Supports right of state workers to complain or refuse in face of illegal orders by supervisors or employers. Employer must provide that the reason for a disciplinary action is not related to the act of whistleblowing.

SB 1245, Chapter 216, Statutes of 1999 Compensation for World War 2 Slave Laborers - Provides legal basis for California residents who were exploited as slave labor in World War 2 to seek compensation from those companies that were enriched. SB 1245 primarily addresses Holocaust-based firms but also "allies" of Nazi Germany, i.e. Japanese corporations during World War 2.

SB 1260, Chapter 295, Statutes of 1999 LAUSD Watchdog with Subpoena Power - In response to the Belmont school construction scandal, Sen. Hayden introduced legislation in 1997 requiring an independent inspector-general at the LAUSD. The District asked that the legislation be suspended so that the office could be created by its local Board. It took until late 1998 for the District to establish the office. SB 1260 was necessary to provide subpoena power for the office.

AB 633, Chapter 554, Statutes of 1999 (Steinberg & Hayden) Obtaining Back Wages Owed Garment Workers - Incorporated in an Assembly bill, this legislation requires the garment industry to guarantee back wages for workers in sweatshops when violations are found by the state labor commissioner.

Budgeting $5.4 million for Tolerance Programs
From 1977-99, the state budget included Hayden items totaling $5.4 million for the "Tools for Tolerance" program at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, public school outreach at the Skirball Cultural Center, and the YouThink program of the Jewish Federation Council.

* $6.7 Million for LA River Watershed Restoration in State Budget, $10 million for Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. (state budget, sub. 2, Hayden items, 1999)

* $250,000 in State Budget for Gabrielino Tongva Springs- To implement Task Force plans to preserve the springs and enhance environmental, cultural and educational opportunities on the site.

* $2.1 Billion Park Bond for March 2000 Ballot
Finally incorporated in a bill by the Assembly Speaker, this bond is the largest in the nation's history. The Senate version by Sen. Hayden Equal Opportunity to Succeed Academically increased the measure by $600 million and incorporated provisions for protecting endangered species on dwindling habitat in Southern California. Also included is $100 million in "Murray-Hayden" funds targeted for parks and recreation in park-poor inner cities.

* Preventing state taxpayers from paying $45 million in local matching funds to build cement walls along the Los Angeles River (1996-99)
The County flood control bureaucracy insists on completely paving the LA River and calling it a "drainage project". This requires local funds as a match for federal dollars. The County has lobbied the state for 4 years to obtain an authorization which will trigger state funds to cover the local match. Sen. Hayden has stopped the County's effort, insisting that the County agree to restore and revitalize the LA River consistent with flood control. The County refuses, and battles every year to kill Sen. Hayden's efforts to recognize and establish restoration plans for the LA River. It's a standoff.

The 1999 Obituary
(Vetoes by Gov. Gray Davis)

SB 80 Hate Crimes Commissions - Establishes two hate crimes commissions, one in the Governor's office for statewide analysis and recommendations, and one in the Attorney General's office for law enforcement implications. Mandates that both commissions recommend ways to toughen state responses to rising hate crimes and armed hate groups attacking individuals on the basis of religion, race, gender and sexual orientation.

SB 81 Equal Opportunity for Academic Success - Requires disclosure of data by all schools on dropout rates, percentage of credentialed teachers, availability of quality textbooks and computers, college preparatory courses, after-school tutoring programs, in order to identify existing inequalities between schools in affluent areas and those in low-income neighborhoods. States California policy that all students deserve equal resources to compete on existing and future tests of achievement.

SB 323 Gang Violence Prevention Task Force - Vetoed as well by Pete Wilson, this measure would establish a roundtable between former gang members seeking a turn towards peace and mainstream organizations with resources such as business, labor, clergy and law enforcement. The goal would be to undertake local pilot projects at gang truces, and promote intervention strategies aimed at creating job opportunities in neighborhoods with high levels of gang violence. Additionally, the measure required a task force on reducing prison violence including voices of experts in violence prevention and former inmates.

SB 460 Protections against Sweatshops - Would presume workers' claims for back wages to be valid when employers fail to keep relevant records. Additionally, would establish a state procurement policy prohibiting the purchase of any materials made in sweatshops.

SB 751 Commission on Community Service - Would place in statute the existing Commission on Community Service created by executive order between Washington and Gov. Wilson. The agency distributes over $24 million in federal funds for Amer-I-Corps among other purposes. The bill would add representatives of at-risk youth on the board, and mandate that the commission advise the Governor on means to increase service learning programs on campuses.

SB 993 Child-Centered Health Standards at Polluted School Sites- This legislation, in response to toxic pollution at Belmont, Jefferson, South Gate and other inner city sites, required that the state set health standards specific to children's developmental and neurological needs. Additionally, it would place state toxics regulators in charge of determining safety for children at existing school sites, instead of self-certification by school Districts.

SB 1754 LA River Planning Commission- This would establish in the Resources Agency a broad-based group of citizen advocates and restoration experts to advise on expenditures of state funds for LA River Restoration. Additionally, it would serve a public outreach function to promote the vision of a restored watershed in Los Angeles.

 

2000 Legislation

SB 57, Chapter 983, Statutes of 2000 Santa Monica Bay Restoration - Requires the Resources Agency and the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project to recommend to the Legislature the most efficient and environmentally sound measures to coordinate state policies to restore and enhance Santa Monica Bay. Also establishes the Project in state statute under the Cal EPA.

SB 335, Chapter 985, Statutes of 2000 The Brandi Mitock Safe Drivers Act - Establishes minimum vision standards for licensed California drivers. This Act further requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to administer written, vision and behind-the-wheel tests to drivers reported as unsafe by either a doctor, law enforcement officer of family member of the reported driver.

SB 1360, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2000 Maintaining an Independent Watchdog for LAUSD - Reauthorizes subpoena power authority for LAUSD's independent Inspector General in order to prevent waste of tax-payer dollars, fraud and conflict-of-interest in the $7 billion school district.

SB 1632, Chapter 996, Statutes of 2000 (Hayden & Poochigian) Parents-Right-to Know about Educational Opportunity - Requires schools to disclose key data to parents on important educational factors, such as the school's graduation rate and the availability of qualified teachers, up-to-date textbooks, academic counselors, and college-prep (AP) courses. Allows parents to compare the academic performance and education factors of the school with other schools in the district and in the state.

SB 1721, Chapter 752, Statutes of 2000 Ethnic Studies Institutes in the CSU - Authorizes California State University Trustees to establish an Institute for Central American Studies at CSU Northridge, an African-American Political Studies Institute at CSU Northridge, and a Center on Portuguese Studies at CSU, Stanislaus.

SB 1737, Chapter 1038, Statutes of 2000 UC Colloquium on Slavery - Requires the University of California to assemble a colloquium of scholars and historians to analyze the economic benefits of slavery that accrued to slave owners and businesses, including insurance companies and report to the Legislature by January 2002. This further requires the state library to participate in the research effort with particular focus on the use of chattel slavery, including indentured servitude, in California.

SB 1888, Chapter 891, Statutes of 2000 Child Labor Protections - In response to CIA's report that 50,000 women and children from developing countries "are brought into the United State under false pretenses each year and forced to work as prostitutes, abused laborers or servants," prohibits state procurement of goods produced by "extreme forms of child labor" such as slavery, prostitution, child pornography, drug trafficking, and exploitation of child labor in sweatshops. This law provides an enforcement mechanism, including penalties for non-compliant contractors, such as voiding the contract, fines, or removal from the bidders' list for one year, at the discretion of the agency.

SB 2098, Chapter 659, Statutes of 2000 Protection against CYA Psychotropic Medications Abuses - Requires the California Youth Authority to develop a protocol for the distribution of psychotropic medications prescribed to youth in its care. This law requires that psychologists of the Youth Authority after July 1999 be either licensed by the state of California upon employment or within three years after employment if the psychologist is hired upon completion of school.

SB 2199, Chapter 934, Statutes of 2000 Disclosure of the Slavery Era Insurance Policies Covering Slaveholders' Losses for Damages to or Death on Slaves - Requires the state insurance commissioner to request and obtain from insurance companies doing business in California any records of slaveholder insurance policies issued by any predecessor corporation during the Slavery Era that provided coverage to slaveholders for damage to or death of their slaves. It also requires the commissioner to issue a report of its findings.

SCR 71, Chapter 130, Statutes of 2000 Endangered Wild Salmon Protection - Requires the Department of Fish & Game to investigate the potential impacts of genetically-engineered salmon on California's wild salmon on the state and federal endangered species lists. Introducing genetically-engineered genes into the wild stock can be dangerous because genetically-engineered salmon grow to double the size of normal salmon, but swim slower, have lower muscle mass, and reproduce less successfully than wild salmon.

SR 34, Adopted 8/29/00 Impact of Biotechnology - Requires the Senate Office of Research to review the impact of biotech on California's health as well as on the economy, and to report to the Senate whether a revision of SCR 170 passed in 1985, endorsing the biotech industry in California is needed.

SR 36, Adopted 9/1/00 U.S. Drug War in Colombia - Expresses the Senate's deep concern over the escalating U.S. drug war in Colombia and calls on the federal government to focus on facilitating peace talks, developing sustainable economic development alternatives to drug production and trafficking. And urges the U.S. government to give greater emphasis to drug prevention, education and treatment than to war in Latin America as a means of addressing drug consumption in California and the United States.

SR 38, Adopted 8/31/00 The Legislature's Role in Global Trade Policy - Establishes the Senate Select Committee to assess and monitor impact of international trade agreements that may impact California's economy, procurement and trade policies, environment, and public health and human rights concerns.

SR 39, Adopted 8/31/00 Removal of Punitive and Additional Sentence Based on Assertion of Innocence - Requests the Judicial Council to review existing sentencing rules allowing a defendant's maintaining his or her innocence after conviction to be considered a factor in aggravation, resulting in the denial of probation or a longer sentence.

2000 Vetoed Legislation

SB 118 Family Care and Medical Leave Protection for Domestic Partners, Grandparents, Siblings and Adult Children - Would expand the California Family Rights Act to allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of leave of unpaid absence to care for a seriously ill domestic partner, adult child, grandparent or sibling. Current law permits such leave of absence only to care for a sick parent, spouse or dependent child.

SB 1097 Enhancement of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Car Washing Industry - Would improve enforcement of labor laws in the car wash industry and facilitates car wash workers' ability to obtain relief from employers who violate worker protection laws relating to child labor, minimum wage, overtime, occupational safety and health, and workers' compensation. Would require car wash employers to register with the Labor Commissioner and exempts from registration those employers with good labor practices.

SB 1149 Family Care and Medical Leave Protection for Domestic Partners, Grandparents, Siblings and Adult Children - Like SB 118, would provide employees an unpaid family care and medical leave to care for a seriously ill domestic partner, adult child, grandparent or sibling.

SB 1512 Plan for Los Angeles Parks and Open Space - Would convene a conference on Los Angeles Parks and Open Space, with the review period beginning with the 1930 Olmstead report on the future of Los Angeles Parks to the present, and make recommendations for updating the parks plan, taking into consideration parks and open space for the poor and disadvantaged communities in the basin.

SB 1514 Healthfulness of Genetically Engineered Food in School Lunches - Would mandate the State Department of Education to review the nutritional value of school lunches, with particular emphasis on the healthfulness of genetically engineered food and to examine, among other problems, childhood obesity and bone loss.

SB 1516 Proactive Rulemaking and Environment Protection in the Era of the World Trade Organization - Would require the secretary for Environmental Protection and the secretary of the Resources Agency to review and assess existing and proposed international trade agreements that may lead to challenges to California laws and regulations concerning the environment.

SB 1566 Proactive Legislature and Global Fair Labor Standards in the Era of the World Trade Organization - Would require the director of the Department of Industrial Relations to review and assess existing and proposed international trade agreements that may negatively impact California labor standards.

SB 1630 Assisted Reproductive Technologies Safety - Would regulate assisted reproductive technologies by mandating physicians to provide to all patients receiving treatment for infertility a written disclosure on, among other things, side effects of drugs used to promote egg production and the dangers of multiple pregnancy.

SB 1710 Accountability on Public Subsidies - Would enact the 2000 Public Subsidies, Public Benefits Act requiring the Legislative Analyst to complete reviews of the economic and employment impacts of selected state business tax expenditures and public subsidies by the state.

SB 1729 Seismic Hazard Review for New School Constructions - Based on the recommendations of the Seismic Safety Commission, would require school districts to complete seismic hazards review of all new school sites before construction begins to prevent the siting of schools on strike-slip faults, such as the proposed Belmont High School which is on a strike-slip fault. Currently, only those school sites within an "Alquist-Priolo Seismic Zone" had to be studied for seismic hazards.

SB 1765 Due Process for Car Impoundment - Would eliminate the Vehicle Code provisions for impoundment of cars driven by a driver whose driver's licenses was suspended for his financial inability to pay traffic tickets and keep all of current car impoundment law designed to prevent the vehicles of dangerous or drunk drivers off the road. Currently, a car can be impounded for economic reasons, which disproportionately impacts the poor and places a further barrier to Welfare-to-Work participants' entrance to the workforce.

SB 1978 Fair Collect Call Rates for the Families of Prisoners - Would alleviate the exorbitant rates for collect phone calls paid by the families and loved ones of prison inmates by requiring the state to contract with the phone service provider that could provide the lowest rates to families and loved ones of prison inmates, while allowing the phone service provider to make a reasonable profit and the state to recoup any costs associated with maintaining the contract.

SB 2097 Research on Wrongful Convictions of Innocent People - Requests the University of California and private postsecondary institutions for the creation of law school projects that undertake teaching and research on wrongful convictions of innocent persons, the causes of wrongful convictions and possible remedies.

2000 Budget Items

* Pay Raise for Jurors from $5 to $15 a Day

* $19.1 million to increase jurors' compensation from $5 to $15 a day to help offset jurors' loss of income while on jury duty and to improve juror participation. This increase was long overdue: the $5 was among the nation's lowest, and there was no increase since 1957. (Senate Budget Subcommittee 2, Hayden, 2000)

Report on Contaminated Marine Life
Required the Department of Fish & Game and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to sample and report on the contaminants found in marine fish. Increasing the public's awareness on such contamination is critical, particularly in Santa Monica and San Francisco Bays where many common fish, such as White Croaker, caught are consumed, but heavily contaminated with PCBs, Dioxin and other toxic chemicals.

Children's Health Standards
Established a Children's Health Unit in the Cal EPA and required it to develop children's health standards, a key to preventing health and developmental problems in children exposed to toxins. Toxic exposure standards set based on the physiology of a 170 pound male are inadequate for children as they have different tolerances, and exposure at low levels may cause problems because of the phase of physical development a child is going through.

Support for Children's Theater for Low-Income Kids in Los Angeles
Secured $115,000 in the budget to support award-winning children's theater for over 3,000 low-income children, and to provide necessary stage repairs at Theatre West- one of LA County's two unionized children's theater companies.

More Academic Tutors in K-12
$5 million to expand the successful Student Academic Partnership Program (tutoring program) from K-6 to grades K-12. This program allows school districts to hire college students as tutors in low-performing schools.

Promoting Service by College Students
Successfully pressured the Governor to expand service learning programs in the higher education. The Governor opposed my proposal to expand service learning in all California colleges and universities by $5 million, but in the end provided $2.2 for the CSU.

Support for a Joint Gang-Intervention Project of CSU Los Angeles and LA County Sheriff
Secured $300,000 for a joint project between the California State University of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for a gang-intervention program that prepared "at risk" youth and former gang members for university enrollment while getting their names deleted from the Cal Gang Database.

RECOGNITIONS
Named Legislator of the Year by:
* UC Student Lobby
* CSU Student Association
* Community College Student Association
* League of Conservation Voters
* Paw-PAC (animal welfare)
* President's Award, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
* Public Service (Pipil) Award, Association of Salvadorans in LA
* President's Award, American Lung Association
* Cal-PIRG
* "Conscience of the Senate" (Dan Walters, Sac. Bee)