Temecula’s Assemblyman Trims Red Tape, Loosens Regulations

Temecula’s assemblyman introduced a slew of bills mostly aiming to loosen regulations and smooth out some government procedures.

State Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, co-authored and introduced several bills before the Feb. 18 deadline.

The bills focused on five topics: changing the house’s procedures, increasing local governments’ authority, changing public safety policy and making small changes to water supply policy and taxation.

Changing house procedures

He introduced ACA 1, which would amend the state’s constitution to require all bills to be available to the public in print before legislators can vote on it, according to house records.

The “Sunshine Law,” or ACA 2, would amend the state’s constitution to bar the house from meeting in the middle of the night, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., unless necessary due to a natural disaster.

ACA-3 will amend the state’s constitution to stagger the way the house meets. Now, the constitution mandates the house meet on the first Monday in December during each even-numbered year to consider new legislation and the new budget.

ACA-3 would have the house meet in December of each odd-numbered year to deal with the budget, and in December of each even-numbered year to discuss new legislation.

AB 1139 aims to chance the state’s government code to change the amount of time the governor has to veto a bill.

As the code stands now, if the governor has the bill for 12 days and it’s not vetoed, it becomes law. For bills passed before Sept. 1 on the second year of the house’s two-year cycle, and the governor gets the bill on or after Sept. 1, the bill won’t become law until Sept. 30, instead of after the usual 12-day period.

Localizing control

AB 33 would amend the state’s government code to let county supervisors fill vacancies on their boards. Now, the governor must fill all vacancies. The bill will let the supervisors do it themselves if the governor fails to act within 90 days.

AB 61 would amend the vehicle code to do away with laws regulating the use of neighborhood electric vehicles. It would let Riverside County draft its own laws on the subject.

AB 64 will give jurisdiction over the California Citrus State Historical Park to Riverside County. Currently, the state has jurisdiction.

AB 170 would cut a state-contracted organization into two. The Inland Regional Center contracts with the state to serve residents with disabilities in both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. This bill would cut the organization in two: one for Riverside County, one for San Bernardino County.

AB 666 will transfer jurisdiction over a contaminated area of the Riverside Land Conservancy to the state. The area, called the Stringfellow Acid Pits, is in the Jurupa Mountains.

Changing public safety

AB 60 would stiffen the charges for suspects accused of assaulting an emergency worker, such as a police officer or a firefighter.

AB 82 would amend the vehicle code to slightly loosen the requirements for a firefighter to get a license to drive an engine.

AB 163 would require the Riverside County Fire Department to check the background of all permanent new employees.

AB 731, or the “State Assistance for Fire Equipment Act,” would amend the government code to cut out a step in the red tape that lets the fire department buy new equipment. Currently, the Secretary of California Emergency Management needs to get the approval of a special committee. This act will automatically give the fire department access to $1,030,000 without the committee’s approval.

AB 1001 will make small changes to the vehicle code streamlining the process for an emergency worker to get specialized emergency-vehicle license plates.

AB 1202 will discount driver’s license fees for people who agree to be an organ donor. The fees will be subsidized with federal funds. 

The water supply

AB 83 will amend the public resources code to loosen the requirements for installing recycled water lines in the public right of way. Now, a local municipality has to conduct a study on how the line will impact the environment. This bill will let some of these lines go in without having a study done.

AB 157, or the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act, aims to change a proposition that is slated for November’s ballot that will propose selling bonds for a project aiming to improve the area’s drinking water infrastructure. The act would reduce the maximum amount the state could sell in bonds by 25 percent to $11.14 billion.

Tax code changes

AB 856 would amend the revenue and taxation code to comply with Federal Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

AB 1190 will amend the revenue and taxation code to take destination management companies out of the classification of retailers, so they won’t have to pay the type of taxes retailers must pay. A destination management company organizes events, activities and tours.

To read the bills, click here and enter “Jeffries” in the search bar.