Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed hundreds of bills in 2005. Those that did not get the ax and will go into effect as laws in 2006 cover a wide range of subjects.
By Max Taves / Special to The Malibu Times
State lawmakers approved 700 laws that will become effective next year. Tougher penalties for drunk driving, a moratorium on offshore drilling, new rights for domestic partners and modifications to recycling are among some of the changes coming to California in 2006.
The largely Democratic Legislature frequently clashed with Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005, with the governor vetoing hundreds of proposed laws. Bills that aimed to increase the minimum wage, raise penalties for gender discrimination and strengthen drinking water standards were among those vetoed by Schwarzenegger.
The state made clear its position on offshore drilling with the approval of AJR 14. It declares a moratorium on offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in California-controlled waters. AJR 14 opposes any federal proposals that weaken the state’s role in managing its own coastal resources.
Bush Administration efforts to secure energy sources and to empower the Department of the Interior have been popularly rebuffed in California and Florida. A moratorium on offshore drilling was originally signed by President George H.W. Bush and was renewed until 2012 by President Bill Clinton. Assembly member Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/Daly City) wrote the resolution, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Supporters of the bill included the city of Malibu, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Heal the Bay.
Drunk drivers will face harsher penalties beginning next year due to a popular effort in both houses to reverse statewide trends. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the number of deaths in California caused by drunk driving has increased more than 50 percent since 2000.
SB 207, written by Sen. Jack Scott (D-Altadena) increases law enforcement’s ability to impound the vehicles of drunk drivers. Anyone who has been convicted of driving under the influence within the past 10 years and either refuses to complete a blood test or has a blood alcohol level of .1 percent or more will have his vehicle impounded.
AB 1353, introduced by Assemblymember Carol Liu (D-La Canada-Flintridge), lengthens the training program for a first-time DUI offender. California drivers with a blood alcohol level equal to or greater than .2 percent must attend nine months of classes consisting of at least 60 hours. Existing law requires that first-time offenders attend classes for six months consisting of at least 45 hours.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, two deaths and 14 “severe injuries” were caused by drunk drivers in Malibu since 2000. No DUI-related fatalities have occurred in the city since 2002. In 2004, 189 people received citations for drunk-driving in Malibu, down from 201 citations in 2000. No data were available on DUI citations for 2005.
The two legislators that represent Malibu in the Capitol actively shaped state law this year. Sen. Sheila Kuehl and Assemblymember Fran Pavley wrote approved legislation that attempts to expand rights for domestic partners and protect the environment.
Domestic partners of public employees will receive the same rights as spouses as a result of SB 973. Kuehl wrote the legislation as an addendum to a 2003 state law and extends to homosexual partners rights that were historically restricted to married couples. The law modifies the California Public Employees Retirement System, which previously penalized the partners of unmarried workers.
State employees who planned to give their pensions to their partners in the case of their death faced significantly higher costs than employees with spouses. Supporters included the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. The Department of Finance was the lone opponent of the bill.
Retailers of rechargeable batteries next year must have a system in place for the acceptance and collection of used rechargable batteries for reuse, recycling or proper disposal as part of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act , which Pavley drafted. It aims to decrease exposure to cadmium and lead. The two common materials in rechargeable batteries are associated with significant health risks. Cadmium is associated with high rates of cancer, lung and kidney damage. Lead exposure is correlated with premature birth and decreased mental ability in newborn children. Supporters of the law’s passage included the California Alliance for Consumer Protection and Clean Water Action.