Bill Would Allow Surcharges on Spray Paint Cans, Felt Pens

Voters could authorize cities and counties to impose surcharges on aerosol spray paint cans and felt-tip marker pens to raise revenue to clean up gang graffiti under a bill (AB 3580) approved by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Author Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) said the graffiti problem has reached “epidemic proportions” in some Los Angeles neighborhoods “and it is the homeowner and the business owner who are bearing the high costs of removal.”

The legislation would permit local governments to levy up to a 10-cent charge on spray paint cans and a 5-cent charge on marker pens to be spent solely on graffiti removal and prevention programs--if two-thirds of the voters agreed with such a move.

A 12-9 vote sent the measure from the Ways and Means Committee to the Assembly floor. The Senate previously approved similar tax legislation sponsored by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles).

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

Air Pollution: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 43-29 vote a bill (AB 3783) by Assemblyman Robert Campbell (D-Richmond) to increase the minimum and maximum fines for violations of stationary source air pollution rules and regulations. For unintentional violations, the minimum fine would increase from $1,000 to $5,000 per day. For intentional violations, the maximum fine would increase from $25,000 to $50,000 per day.

Pickup Trucks: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 68-1 vote a bill (AB 2561) by Assemblyman Eric Seastrand (R-Salinas) to prohibit the transportation of people in the open backs of pickup trucks without safety belts or other restraints.

Student Aid: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-30 vote a bill (AB 3989) by Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles) to require that student aid applications and instructions be printed and distributed in Spanish.

Committee Action

Home Buyers: The Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (AB 4236) by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) to earmark $2 billion to help first-time home buyers obtain loans in regions where housing prices are high. A 20-1 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

Dentists: The Health Committee approved a bill (AB 2934) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to make dentists who encourage excessive, inadequate or unnecessary treatment of patients subject to disciplinary action by the state Board of Dental Examiners. The goal is to crack down on dental mills that operate on a quota system. A 17-1 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

Child Poisonings: The Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (AB 4160) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to require highly toxic household products that could accidentally poison children to include bittering agents or child proof caps. A 12-7 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

SENATE

Floor Action

Lockheed Move: Adopted by a voice vote a resolution (SR 59) by President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) urging the Lockheed Co. to reconsider its decision to move all aircraft production operations from Burbank to Marietta, Ga.

AIDS: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 36-3 vote a bill (SB 2509) by Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) to make it easier for health care workers who acquire AIDS from on-the-job exposure to obtain workers compensation benefits.

Diapers: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-5 vote a bill (SB 2342) by Sen. Lucy Killea (D-San Diego) to prohibit child day care centers from refusing to care for children whose parents insist that they wear cloth diapers. Violations would call for $50 fines.

Children: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-4 vote a bill (SB 2379) by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to create a state Department of Children’s Services within the state Health and Welfare Agency.

Committee Action

Child Care: The Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill (SB 2208) by Sen. Rebecca Morgan (R-Los Altos Hills) to grant tax credits to parents who opt to stay home with young children during the first year after birth. A 6-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Capital Fact

Fresno County produces more cotton than any other county in the United States, according to the Department of Agriculture.