Voter Registration

Looks like more Democrats are registering to vote in California.(Blue -- Democrats, Red -- Republicans)

Bills Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed this month and how Gaines voted

Bills Vetoed: 

SB 885, which would have barred the sale of gift cards that contain a “dormancy fee.” The governor said the measure would place an unnecessary burden on small businesses (LOS ANGELES TIMES) Gaines voted NO

AB 2411, which would have brought pet health insurance under the regulation of the state Dept. of Insurance. The governor said the agency already has the authority to oversee the industry (STATE NET) Gaines voted NO

SB 427, a bill that would have imposed a $5,000 fine on auto repair shops that do not properly restore an airbag that has been deployed in a crash (COLLISIONWEEK.COM). Gaines voted NO

AB 482, which would have barred Golden State employers from using the results of a credit report to hire, fire or promote workers (STATE NET).  Gaines voted NO

AB 2187, which would have created a new misdemeanor crime for employers who fail to pay a worker who quits or is terminated their full due wages within 90 days. The governor also vetoed a companion measure, AB 1881, which would have made such workers eligible to receive up to twice the amount they are owed in damages (LOS ANGELES TIMES). Gaines voted NO

 AB 1656, which would have required fur clothing manufacturers to attach conspicuous labels naming the kind of animal used for each garment (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE). Gaines voted NO

 

SB 933, which would have barred CALIFORNIA retailers from charging consumers a fee for using a debit card (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE).  Gaines  Did not vote

SB 515, which would have required Golden State schools, regional occupational programs and community colleges to show that at least half of their course offerings are linked to high-demand workforce needs (STATE NET). Gaines voted NO

AB 572, which would have required public charter schools to disclose financial conflicts of interest in awarding vendor contracts and to make board meetings open to the public (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE).  Gaines voted NO

SB 1451, which would have required Golden State schools to screen the content of new textbooks to ensure they do not contain changes made in the TEXAS education curriculum and to report findings to the Legislature and state education officials (HOSUTON CHRONICLE). Gaines voted NO

AB 2540, which would have barred health insurers from rescinding individual health policies when the holder becomes ill. The governor said the matter is already addressed by the federal health care reform law (LOS ANGELES TIMES). Gaines voted NO

SB 1231, which would have required most government vendors to certify that none of their products are produced by forced labor or in sweatshops (STATE NET). Gaines voted NO

 

SB 1207, legislation that would have required local governments to address fire prevention and protection as part of their land-use decisions. Gaines voted NO

More bills Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law this month and how Gaines voted

• SB 1237, which requires hospitals to disclose radiation overdoses during CT scans and to record the doses from all scans on the patient’s medical records (LOS ANGELES TIMES). Gaines voted NO
•  SB 5, which allows autopsy reports of homicide victims to be sealed at the request of the victim’s parents (LOS ANGELES TIMES). Gaines voted YES
•  AB 2199, which overturns a Golden State law requiring the state to seek a cure for homosexuality (STATE NET). Gaines voted YES

The bills Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law this month and Gaines vote

• SB 1072, which will allow Golden State gamblers the opportunity to bet on horses to lose. The measure goes into effect in 2012 (LOS ANGELES TIMES). Assemblyman Ted Gaines voted NO
•  SB 1345, which extends to 2016 an exemption that allows the importation of kangaroo body parts, which are used to make soccer shoes and other apparel (LOS ANGELES TIMES). Gaines voted NO
• AB 1999, which gives immunity from prosecution to people younger than 21 for drinking alcohol in cases in which they call 911 to report an alcohol-related medical emergency (LOS ANGELES TIMES).  Gaines voted YES
•  AB 1601, which authorizes judges to revoke for up to 10 years the driver’s license of anyone convicted of drunk driving three or more times within a 10-year period. Current law allows judges to take a three-time offender’s license for no more than three years. The law goes into effect in 2012 (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE). Gaines voted YES
•  SB 1399, which allows state prison officials to release comatose and physically incapacitated inmates on medical parole. All releases must be approved by the state parole board and prisoners serving life terms or on death row will not be eligible (LOS ANGELES TIMES). Gaines voted NO
• SB 1411, which makes it a misdemeanor to impersonate someone online if it is “for the purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person.” Violators face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine (PC WORLD). Gaines voted YES
• SB 435, which allows police to cite motorcycle owners if they remove federally required emissions-control equipment such as the catalytic converter. Violators face fines up to $250 (SACRAMENTO BEE). Gaines voted NO
•  SB 1440, which requires the CALIFORNIA State University system to guarantee admission with junior status to community college students who obtain associate’s degrees tailored to specific majors and who meet all requirements for transfer (LOS ANGELES TIMES) Gaines voted NO
• SB 882, making it an infraction to sell or furnish electronic cigarettes to those under 18. Violators face fines up to $1,000 (STATE NET). Gaines voted NO

California Legislature's recent bill activity

(Ted Gaines, 4th Assembly District for parts of Alpine, Placer, El Dorado and Sacramento county.)
Bills on BUSINESS: The CALIFORNIA Senate gives final approval to SB 657, which would require Golden State companies with more than $100 million in gross annual receipts to post on their Web site what efforts they are making, if any, to ensure their suppliers are not using slave laborers. It moves to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for review (LOS ANGELES TIMES).
• The Assembly gives its final endorsement to AB 482, which would prohibit use of credit reports in hiring decisions unless the information is “substantially job-related,” such as for employment in a bank or financial institution, a management position or a law enforcement appointment. It also goes to Gov. Schwarzenegger (SACRAMENTO BEE).

The Senate also rejects SB 797, (Gaines voted NO) which would have banned baby products like sippy cups and bottles that contain bisphenol A, or BPA (SACRAMENTO BEE).
• Lawmakers endorse AB 1650, (Gaines voted YES) which would bar persons engaging in investment activities in Iran’s energy market from bidding on or entering into state government contracts. It moves to Schwarzenegger (CALIFORNIA WATCH [SACRAMENTO]).
• Lawmakers also endorse SB 967, which would give companies bidding on state contracts a 5 percent preference if 90 percent of the company’s employees are Golden State residents. It also moves to the governor (CALIFORNIA WATCH [SACRAMENTO]).
• The Senate also approve SB 346, which would, beginning in 2014, bar the sale of motor vehicle brake pads containing 5 percent or more of copper. The bill has been sent to the governor for review (STATE NET).

Bills on CRIME & PUNISHMENT: The CALIFORNIA Senate gives final approval to SB 1399, which would create a compassionate release and parole program for prisoners who are permanently medically incapacitated, need 24-hour care, and are not serving sentences of death or life without parole. It now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for review (SACRAMENTO BEE).
• Lawmakers endorse AB 1844, which, among other things, would impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for some sex crimes against minors and lifetime parole supervision for habitual sex criminals. It also goes to Gov. Schwarzenegger (SACRAMENTO BEE).
• The Assembly gives final approval to AB 2479, which would allow paparazzi photographers to be sued for “false imprisonment” if they physically harass someone in order to obtain their photos or audio recordings. It moves to Schwarzenegger (SACRAMENTO BEE).

Bills on EDUCATION: The CALIFORNIA Senate gives final approval to SB 1381, which sets Sept. 1st as the date by which Golden State children must turn 5 years old to start kindergarten. It moves to Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R) for review (SACRAMENTO BEE).
• Lawmakers endorse SB 1317, which would make parents who habitually allow their children to skip school subject to criminal misdemeanor charges. The bill also goes to Gov. Schwarzenegger (SACRAMENTO BEE).

Bills on ENERGY: The CALIFORNIA Senate fails to approve Assembly amendments made to SB 722, (Gaines voted NO) a bill that would have required one-third of the state’s power to come from renewable energy sources like wind or sunlight (LOS ANGELES TIMES).

Bills on ENVIRONMENT: CALIFORNIA lawmakers endorse AB 2503, (Gaines vote YES) which would allow offshore oil drilling rigs due to be retired to be converted into artificial reefs for fish and other marine life. It moves to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for review (SACRAMENTO BEE).
• Lawmakers endorse AB 2398, (Gaines voted NO) which requires Golden State carpet manufacturers to establish and finance a program to collect, process and recycle waste carpet into secondary products. It also moves to Gov. Schwarzenegger (LOS ANGELES TIMES).

Bills in HEALTH & SCIENCE:
The CALIFORNIA Senate gives final endorsement to SB 1163, (Gaines voted YES) which would require health insurers to provide consumers with 60 days’ notice before increasing premiums. It moves to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who has indicated he will sign the bill into law (CALIFORNIA HEALTHLINE).
• The Senate rejects AB 2578, (Gaines voted NO) which would have required health insurers to obtain approval from lawmakers before raising premiums (CALIFORNIA HEALTHLINE).
• The Senate gives final approval to SB 220, (Gaines voted NO) which would require health insurance policies to cover treatment to help people stop smoking. It goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for review (SAN BERNADINO SUN).
• Lawmakers approve AB 2470, (Gaines voted NO) which would require health insurers seeking to rescind an insurance policy to first have that rescission approved by an independent review panel. It also moves to the governor (CALIFORNIA WATCH [SACRAMENTO]).

Bills on SOCIAL POLICY: The CALIFORNIA Assembly gives final approval to AB 2199, (Gaines voted YES) which eliminates a decade-old law requiring the state to seek a cure for homosexuality. It moves to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for review (SACRAMENTO BEE).

Other bills: The CALIFORNIA Senate shoots down AB 1810, (Gaines voted NO) which would have allowed the state to keep permanent records of anyone buying a shotgun or rifle (SACRAMENTO BEE).
• CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signs SB 535, (Gaines voted YES)which directs state officials to issue up to 40,000 new permits to owners of low-emissions vehicles to drive solo in freeway carpool lanes. It also extends to 2015 the lifespan of existing permits (LOS ANGELES TIMES).
— Information provided by "State Net Capitol Journal," Compiled by RICH EHISEN