Assembly OKs Bill Outlawing Price Gouging After a Disaster

The Assembly has narrowly passed legislation to make it a misdemeanor to increase prices more than 10% on critical goods and services after a state of emergency declaration such as the one caused by the Northridge earthquake in January.

A 41-25 vote, the exact majority required, sent the measure (AB 57X) sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) on to the Senate.

Katz said thousands of people who suffered earthquake damages were victimized again by some merchants who substantially hiked their prices for water, medical supplies and other essential items.

“We can’t stop earthquakes from shaking California,” the Southern California lawmaker said, “but we can stop unscrupulous people from making a profit on tragic situations.”

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Child Molesters: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 60-4 vote a bill (AB 2500) by Assemblywoman Barbara Alby (R-Fair Oaks) to require the state Department of Justice to set up a 900-prefix telephone line to allow parents to call in and determine if convicted felony child molesters are residing in their neighborhoods.

* Drivers Licenses: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 46-13 vote a bill (AB 79X) by Assemblyman Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad) to require that drivers convicted of drug offenses lose their licenses for six months to prevent a threatened loss of $54 million in federal highway funds.

* ‘Boot Camps’: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 45-27 vote a bill (AB 96X) by Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Berkeley) to require “boot camps” for juvenile criminal offenders to include programs designed to better prepare them for re-entry into society, with follow-up checks.

Committee Action

* Local Elected Officials: The Governmental Organization Committee approved a constitutional amendment (SCA 12) that would limit the salaries of local elected officials to no more than the $120,000 annual salary that the governor is eligible to receive. Gov. Pete Wilson voluntarily takes $114,000; Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan’s salary is $123,778, but he accepts only $1 per year. A 9-0 vote sent the measure to the Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee.

Bill Introductions

* Transportation Authority: ACR 142 by Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) requests a state audit of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority with the results and recommendations for improving overall efficiency and economy to be made available to the governor and the Legislature by July 1, 1995.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Food Stamps: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-14 vote a bill (SB 1675) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to require the Department of Social Services to work with at least five non-sectarian, nonprofit groups to make food stamp applications available in county unemployment offices, homeless shelters and at emergency food distribution sites.

Committee Action

* Horse Tripping: The Judiciary Committee rejected a bill (AB 49X) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) to make it a misdemeanor to intentionally trip a horse, a feature of Mexican-style rodeos. It received a 5-2 vote, but six yes votes were required for approval. Reconsideration granted.

* Mountain Lions: The Natural Resources Committee rejected a bill (SB 2013) by Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay) to allow the sport hunting of mountain lions, pending a vote of the people. A woman jogger recently was killed by a mountain lion in the Auburn Lake trails area of Northern California. A 6-4 vote was against the bill. Reconsideration granted. The Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee also rejected a similar bill (AB 3835) by Assemblyman David Knowles (R-Placerville) on a 5-5 tie.

* Gender Pricing: The Business and Professions Committee approved a bill (AB 2418) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) to prohibit merchants from charging more money for goods or services based solely upon a person’s sex. A 6-2 vote sent the bill to the Judiciary Committee.