Bill Would Cut Cost of Registration for Low-Polluting Cars

Purchasers of new, low-polluting automobiles would get a partial rebate on vehicle registration costs and buyers of high-polluting cars would have to pay additional fees under legislation introduced in the Senate.

“Cleaner cars on the road mean cleaner air for all of us to breathe,” said Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara), author of the measure (SB 378). “By providing these incentives, we can encourage consumers and manufacturers to make environmentally sound choices.”

The amount of the rebate or increased fee would vary, depending on how cleanly the car runs, but the total would balance out so that there is no additional cost to the state.

ASSEMBLY

Bill Introductions

Metal Detectors: AB 777 by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Panorama City) would allocate $1.5 million to the Los Angeles Unified School District to acquire and install metal detectors to catch students carrying guns on junior high and high school campuses.

Kervorkian: AB 749 by Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) would revoke the state physician and surgeon’s license of Dr. Jack Kervorkian and any other person holding himself or herself out as an “obitrist,” or person who assists another to end a human life.

Senior Citizens: AB 836 by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) would require counties to establish registries to make it easier for senior citizens and disabled people to find in-home service providers.

Voter Registration: AB 744 by Assemblyman Joe Baca (D-San Bernardino) would require school districts to give 18-year-olds the opportunity to register to vote as part of U.S. government and civics courses.

Stockbrokers: AB 729 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) would require stockbrokers to furnish clients with the telephone number of the Department of Corporations to obtain information on the status of the broker’s license and any disciplinary actions.

Alcoholic Beverages: ACA 6 by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) would allow law enforcement officers to use decoys under 21 years of age to catch people who sell alcoholic beverages to minors.

Smog: AB 716 by Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) would replace the South Coast Air Quality Management District board of directors named by county supervisors with a board picked by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Fishing: AB 778 by Assemblyman Trice Harvey (R-Bakersfield) would allow people over 70 to fish without a license.

SENATE

Bill Introductions

Renters’ Credit: SCA 9 by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) would add the renters’ tax credit to the state Constitution, which would make it more difficult to repeal or modify.

Election Ballots: SB 440 by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) would require voters to display an identification card with a photograph at the polls in order to receive ballots. People without such identification would be given provisional ballots and their identities would be checked later.

Workers’ Compensation: SB 436 by Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) would deny workers’ compensation insurance stress benefits to workers disciplined, transferred, fired or laid off.

Bobcats: SB 380 by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) would prohibit the hunting of bobcats to help prevent them from becoming extinct.