Governor

Will attend a fund-raiser for Assembly Republican Caucus Chairman Robert Frazee of Carlsbad tonight. Assembly Floor Action: Pets: Passed and sent to the governor on a 45-17 vote a bill (SB 1842) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) to make it a crime to kill and eat any animal commonly kept as a house pet. Child Car Seats: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence in amendments on a 62-1 vote a bill (SB 1372) by Sen. Nicholas Petris (D-Oakland) to require all children under the age of 4 to use child car seats and increase the penalty for violations from an infraction to a misdemeanor. Marriage License Fees: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence in amendments on a 65-4 vote a bill (SB 193) by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) to permit counties to increase the marriage license fee by $6 to provide additional funds for domestic violence programs. Sex: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence on amendments on a 60-0 vote a bill (SB 1004) by Sen. Daniel Boatwright (D-Concord) to make it a criminal offense for a psychiatrist, psychologist or marriage counselor to have sex with a patient. Vicious Dogs: Passed and returned to the Senate for concurrence in amendments on a 63-1 vote a bill (SB 428) by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to give animal control officers new powers to seek court orders to regulate vicious or potentially dangerous dogs such as pit bulls. Committee Action: Bottles and Cans: The Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (SB 1221) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to increase the redemption rate of one penny per empty recyclable soft drink and beer container to a nickel for two containers, starting Jan. 1. A 21-2 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor. Senate Floor Action: Discrimination: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 22-9 vote a bill (AB 1742) by Assemblyman Terry Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to prohibit the issuance or renewal of a liquor license to private clubs that discriminate in membership on the basis of color, race, religion, ancestral origin, sex or age. Certain exceptions would be allowed, however. The governor vetoed a similar bill last year. Community College Trustees: Passed and sent to the governor on a 24-11 vote a bill (AB 364) by Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) to require Los Angeles community college trustees to be elected from districts instead of at-large in order to increase minority representation on the governing board. Bill Introductions: Flag: SB 1724 by Sen. John Doolittle (R-Rocklin) would make it a crime punishable by a 90-day jail term or a $400 fine, or both, to mutilate, deface, burn or trample the U.S. flag in any public place under circumstances when it is likely to provoke a violent reaction.