Rima Shah
Local lawmakers hurried to meet the deadline to introduce new
legislation Tuesday, with many of the proposed laws slated to
significantly impact education, healthcare and finance.
Sen. Jack Scott is proposing a law requiring all University of
California schools to have the same undergraduate transfer
requirements. The bill is similar to one he successfully introduced
last year that required the same undergraduate transfer requirements
for all California State University campuses.
The legislation requires a community college student transferring
to any UC school to face the same requirements, said Jason Murphy,
legislative aide to Scott.
"It will have an impact on community college students and save
time and money," Murphy said.
Scott's other bills would allow California State University
schools to award doctorates in applied and occupational fields and
allow cities to enforce zoning ordinances for liquor store owners.
Assemblyman Keith Richman is introducing legislation that, if
successful, would change the way public employees plan retirement and
would provide health insurance to all Californians.
His proposed pension plan would offer new public workers
retirement benefits similar to private 401(K) accounts. His
healthcare plan would require all Californians to have basic health
insurance. It would establish semi-public purchasing pools, which
will give individuals and small businesses leverage to negotiate
directly with insurance companies. Education and healthcare were also
key items in Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer's package.
Frommer introduced legislation that would create a trust to invest
state-owned land worth about $5 billion into an income-earning asset
for California students. The state would lease the land for
commercial uses such as shopping centers or turn it into housing. The
revenues generated from the investments, which would amount to $2
billion over the next 10 years, would then be used to help support
California's college systems.
Frommer is also introducing legislation that would require drug
companies to provide information to consumers about safety
requirements for international pharmacies, provide drug discount
cards for low-income Californians and consolidate drug purchasing for
state programs to negotiate for lower drug prices.
Sen. Bob Margett is introducing legislation that will provide tax
breaks for Californians who are providing long-term care for an
elderly person at home. He is also proposing legislation that will
give hospitals that are closing down a 90-day moratorium period in
order to prepare the community for its closure.
"It just gives a lot of security," said Justin Matheson, Margett's
chief of staff. "People need to know when their hospitals are closing
down and to plan for them."
Assemblywoman Carol Liu proposed legislation that would require
Caltrans to consult with local governments on highway projects in the
local government's jurisdiction.
Some of her other legislation would allow the Community College
Board of Governors to set student fee levels for community colleges,
give the Department of Motor Vehicles authority over online driving
schools and make possession of more than 100 images of child
pornography a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
"My legislative package reflects those issues that are high
priorities for me and the 44th Assembly District," Liu said.
