Print ArticleGovernor Schwarzenegger has signed a number of important measures authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles). In addition to AB 2321 (authorizing Los Angeles´s Metropolitan Transportation Agency to place a .5% sales tax increase on the November 4 ballot to fund $40 billion in transportation improvements) and AB 1879 (establishing first-ever comprehensive state authority to regulate consumer products containing dangerous chemicals), the Governor signed:
AB 2286 – Hazardous chemicals: electronic reporting: surcharge. This bill requires the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to establish a statewide information management system for reporting data on the use of hazardous chemicals to the Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs) electronically. Currently, many of these agencies collect data in hard copy format resulting in an inefficient use of the collected data, increased staff time for both regulators and regulated businesses, and dangerous delays in delivery of hazard data to emergency personnel. A temporary, three-year increase in the hazardous materials business plan oversight surcharge by no more than $25 will augment federal funding and actions already underway at CalEPA to implement the system. This bill has broad support in both the business and environmental communities.
AB 837 – Prohibited Persons: firearms. This bill clarifies that whenever the Department of Justice (DOJ) is authorized to conduct a background check on an individual regarding his or her eligibility to possess a firearm, DOJ shall make that determination based on the eligibility requirements of both state and federal law. This common sense measure will prevent the DOJ from being in the untenable position of declaring someone "eligible" to possess firearms even though he or she would be disqualified under federal law from doing so (indeed, subject to prosecution in federal court for doing so.). The DOJ is the sponsor of this measure.
AB 2737 – Public Safety Officers/Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure. This bill will permit court-ordered blood testing of arrestees when peace officers, firefighters or emergency medical personnel acting within the normal scope of their duties suffer a blood borne pathogen exposure. The Los Angeles Police Protective League is the sponsor of this legislation, which is supported by numerous public safety agencies and organizations throughout the state.
AB 2448 -- Court Fee Waiver: access to justice. This bill will require that no fee waiver application can be denied without being reviewed by a judicial officer, and that all applicants who have their applications denied be provided with specific reasons for the denial and an opportunity to request a hearing or submit a revised application. AB 2448 puts into statute a process for the fair and timely processing of fee waivers that will ensure that court fees are not a barrier to access for the poor. The Judicial Council is the sponsor of this measure.
AB 2846 - Common Interest Developments: dispute resolutions. This bill will allow common interest development homeowners to pay disputed assessments under protest and pursue an action in small claims court. Currently homeowners have no ability to dispute charges levied by their homeowners associations until the amount is so delinquent, or has grown to such a large amount that the association is pursuing foreclosure. The bill is sponsored by the California Alliance of Retired Americans and supported by homeowner advocates, homeowners associations, community managers, and the Judicial Council.
AB 2673 – Domestic Partnerhips: retirement equity. This bill will ensure that domestic partners employed by all counties in the state are treated the same as married couples with regard to the payment of survivor benefits. Under existing law, some counties, including Los Angeles, operate under a section of retirement law that requires that survivor benefits first be paid to any child of the partnership before they can be made to the surviving partner. Conversely, the surviving spouse in a marriage receives survivor benefits directly.
Assemblyman Feuer was elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 42nd Assembly District, which includes all or part of the Los Angeles communities of Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Toluca Lake, Universal City, Griffith Park, Brentwood, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Beverly Glen, Westwood, Century City, Hollywood, Fairfax, Hancock Park, Los Feliz, as well as the Cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.
AB 2286 – Hazardous chemicals: electronic reporting: surcharge. This bill requires the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to establish a statewide information management system for reporting data on the use of hazardous chemicals to the Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs) electronically. Currently, many of these agencies collect data in hard copy format resulting in an inefficient use of the collected data, increased staff time for both regulators and regulated businesses, and dangerous delays in delivery of hazard data to emergency personnel. A temporary, three-year increase in the hazardous materials business plan oversight surcharge by no more than $25 will augment federal funding and actions already underway at CalEPA to implement the system. This bill has broad support in both the business and environmental communities.
AB 837 – Prohibited Persons: firearms. This bill clarifies that whenever the Department of Justice (DOJ) is authorized to conduct a background check on an individual regarding his or her eligibility to possess a firearm, DOJ shall make that determination based on the eligibility requirements of both state and federal law. This common sense measure will prevent the DOJ from being in the untenable position of declaring someone "eligible" to possess firearms even though he or she would be disqualified under federal law from doing so (indeed, subject to prosecution in federal court for doing so.). The DOJ is the sponsor of this measure.
AB 2737 – Public Safety Officers/Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure. This bill will permit court-ordered blood testing of arrestees when peace officers, firefighters or emergency medical personnel acting within the normal scope of their duties suffer a blood borne pathogen exposure. The Los Angeles Police Protective League is the sponsor of this legislation, which is supported by numerous public safety agencies and organizations throughout the state.
AB 2448 -- Court Fee Waiver: access to justice. This bill will require that no fee waiver application can be denied without being reviewed by a judicial officer, and that all applicants who have their applications denied be provided with specific reasons for the denial and an opportunity to request a hearing or submit a revised application. AB 2448 puts into statute a process for the fair and timely processing of fee waivers that will ensure that court fees are not a barrier to access for the poor. The Judicial Council is the sponsor of this measure.
AB 2846 - Common Interest Developments: dispute resolutions. This bill will allow common interest development homeowners to pay disputed assessments under protest and pursue an action in small claims court. Currently homeowners have no ability to dispute charges levied by their homeowners associations until the amount is so delinquent, or has grown to such a large amount that the association is pursuing foreclosure. The bill is sponsored by the California Alliance of Retired Americans and supported by homeowner advocates, homeowners associations, community managers, and the Judicial Council.
AB 2673 – Domestic Partnerhips: retirement equity. This bill will ensure that domestic partners employed by all counties in the state are treated the same as married couples with regard to the payment of survivor benefits. Under existing law, some counties, including Los Angeles, operate under a section of retirement law that requires that survivor benefits first be paid to any child of the partnership before they can be made to the surviving partner. Conversely, the surviving spouse in a marriage receives survivor benefits directly.
Assemblyman Feuer was elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 42nd Assembly District, which includes all or part of the Los Angeles communities of Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Toluca Lake, Universal City, Griffith Park, Brentwood, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Beverly Glen, Westwood, Century City, Hollywood, Fairfax, Hancock Park, Los Feliz, as well as the Cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.
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