News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Governor Signs 162 Bills

Governor Signs 162 Bills

Includes 10 Wildfire-Related Measures

By Michael P. Neufeld
Monday, September 29, 2008

Sacramento, CA – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed 162 legislative bills this past week including 10 wildfire-related measures. Among the approved legislation were bills authored by members of the State Assembly representing the mountain communities.

The rush to sign legislation followed Governor Schwarzenegger's decision not to approve any legislation until after the state had its new budget.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who was in Lake Arrowhead in November last year, signed 162 bills and vetoed 128 this past week. (Photo by Ken Hunter.)

The governor also vetoed 128 bills, some with the simple veto message, "Given the delay, I am only signing bills that are the highest priority for California."

Among the fire-related measures signed by the governor was a bill requiring residents in high-hazard areas to provide a 100-foot defensible space around their property. He also signed other measures designed to improve the emergency response during wildfires and help reduce the number of homes lost during wildfires.

LOCAL BILLS

Assembly Bill 1846 by Assemblyman Anthony Adams (R-Hesperia) deals with inedible kitchen grease and was signed by the governor. This bill will eliminate the fee on vehicles transporting inedible kitchen grease for individuals who intend to use the collected grease for their own personal use as a diesel fuel alternative.

Assembly Bill 619 by Assemblymember Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands) also got the nod from Schwarzenegger. This bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to develop and administer a vehicle registration amnesty program for vehicles that have been previously registered or incorrectly classified. A participant in the program would be required to complete an amnesty application with the department, signed under penalty of perjury, by December 31, 2008.

Emmerson's Assembly Bill 1684 dealing with vital records was also approved. This bill would reduce the length of time a county or city must retain security system recorded data from one year to 210 days.

Assembly Bill 2426 by Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) got the governor's signature. This bill grants the authority to ban alcohol possession in specific locations at specific times, through a state park district superintendent's posted order. On certain holidays, some state parks, become problem areas, with dangerous drunken rowdiness. This creates an unwelcoming environment for safe, sane use of state parks and is uninviting for families. Furthermore, intoxicated visitors often leave the state park and get behind the wheel.

One of the pieces of legislation vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger was Assembly Bill 2233 by Assemblyman Bill Maze (R-Visalia) that would have banned California drivers from holding a live animal in their laps or arms.

The lap-dog measure was vetoed Saturday despite the fact Schwarzenegger has previously affixed his signature to bills that ban drivers from text messaging and using phones without a hands-free device. Current California regulations allow motorists to be cited if their vision is obstructed or a distraction causes them to violate the rule of the road.

However, that regulation does not specify holding an animal is a violation. Pets are currently required to be secured in the back of a pickup truck but are not prohibited from being loose in a car.