SACRAMENTO FILE

Governor Appointed Abel S. Armas of Downey to the Youthful Offender Parole Board. A retired Los Angeles police captain, Armas replaces Percy H. Pinkney of Sacramento, who resigned. The job pays $59,675 yearly and requires Senate confirmation.

Assembly Floor Action:

State Gemstone: Approved and sent to the Senate on a 50-7 vote a bill (AB 2357) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos) designating benitoite as the official state gemstone. Benitoite is a rare deep-blue to light-blue gemstone found only near the headwaters of the San Benito River in San Benito County, which is represented by Areias. A similar bill was approved by the lower house last year, but it died in the Senate.

Committee Action: Road Repairs: The Assembly Transportation Committee approved a bill (AB 2341) by Assemblymen Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) and William P. Baker (R-Danville) to provide $2 billion for street and road repairs over five years. Money would come from the state surplus, increased truck weight fees, various tax shifts and local matching funds. An 11-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee for more screening.

Senate Floor Action: Drunk Driving: Approved and sent to the Assembly on a 31-0 vote a bill (SB 923) by Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim) to require convicted repeat drunk drivers to serve at least 48 hours in jail or put in 10 days of community service.

Toxic Substances: Approved and sent to the Assembly on a 37-0 vote a bill (SB 571) by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) to establish a state toll-free telephone hot line to answer questions on hazardous toxic substances and the effects of exposure to them.

State Fair: Approved and sent to the governor’s desk on a 33-1 vote a bill (SB 207) by Sen. Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) to appropriate $2.2 million from the state general fund to pay off old bills of the California Exposition and State Fair.