Measure Would Allow Fines for Illegal Coastal Development

A bill to give the state Coastal Commission and local governments the power to levy administrative fines of up to $10,000 per day for illegal coastline development has been introduced in the Senate.

“The present enforcement system is too weak to be an effective deterrent,” said Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles), the author of the measure (SB 1449).

“Hundreds of acres of pristine coastal land have been destroyed because the current court-imposed penalties amount to too little, too late.”

Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed similar legislation last year, saying it was premature because he had signed another bill granting the commission the authority to immediately issue a cease-and-desist order to stop any unauthorized coastal development project.

ASSEMBLY

Bill Introductions

* Welfare Aid: AB 2584 by Assemblyman Charles W. Quackenbush (R-Saratoga) would prohibit a family that has lived in California for less than 12 months from receiving a maximum welfare aid grant in excess of the amount of money that the family would have received in the state of prior residence. Gov. Wilson requested this bill in his State of the State speech to the Legislature. It also is part of his proposed November ballot initiative.

* Prisoner Parole: AB 2622 by Assemblyman William P. Baker (R-Danville) would prohibit state prison inmates convicted of violent crimes from being eligible for parole or release until they pass a literacy equivalency test.

* Motorcycle Safety: AB 2587 by Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) would extend until Jan. 1, 1998, a $2 additional initial and renewal motorcycle registration fee to provide funding for motorcycle safety programs.

* Arts Council: AB 2572 by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) would require the state Arts Council to set up programs specifically designed to increase the participation of previously underserved ethnic minority groups.

* Health Insurance: AB 2575 by Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) would direct the state insurance commissioner to conduct a study on the need for universal health insurance coverage and report to the Legislature before July 1, 1993.

* AIDS Drugs: AB 2556 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) would add additional drugs that are used for the treatment of AIDS or the virus that causes AIDS to the approved list of Medi-Cal drugs for which the state will pay a portion of the cost.

* Child Care: AB 2555 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) would require the Department of Education to develop guidelines for the design of space to accommodate before-school and after-school child-care programs in the elementary schools.

* State Contracts: AB 2578 by Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) would require state agency contracts funded from voter-approved bond issues to provide a 5% preference to California firms.

* Medi-Cal: AB 2612 by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) would require Los Angeles County to conduct a study of incentives that may attract private care providers into the Medi-Cal program and forward the results to the state Department of Health Services.

* Cemetery Graves: AB 2599 by Assemblyman Dave Elder (D-San Pedro) would require cemeteries to dig graves to a minimum specified depth and cover the coffins with a minimum amount of dirt.

SENATE

Bill Introductions

* Driver’s License Data: SB 1447 by Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) would prohibit a business firm that obtains data from a driver’s license for purchase identification purposes from selling or using that information to advertise goods or services without prior consent.

* Ballot Pamphlets: SB 1475 by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco) would require voter ballot pamphlets to contain in a section near the front a concise easy-to-understand summary of the meaning and effect of yes and no votes on each measure.