Assembly Floor Action: Mental Health Insurance: Approved...

Assembly Floor Action: Mental Health Insurance: Approved on a 42-28 vote a bill (AB 2752) by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) to require group health insurance plans to include mental health protection coverage. It went to the Senate.

Committee Action: Utility Rates: The Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee approved a bill (AB 3522) by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) to require the Public Utilities Commission to hold annual rate-setting hearings instead of once every three years. A 7-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Public Employee Strikes: The Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee defeated a constitutional amendment (ACA 32) by Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) to overrule a state Supreme Court decision that allowed public employees to strike. It received a 4-1 vote, but needed five affirmative votes for approval.

Bills Introduced: AIDS--AB 3616 by Assemblyman Don Rogers (R-Bakersfield) would require patients who have AIDS to inform doctors and dentists prior to receiving treatment for other ailments.

Video Cassettes: AB 4301 by Assemblyman Gerald R. Eaves (D-Rialto) would make it illegal to advertise, sell or rent duplicated video cassettes.

Senate Floor Action: Prison Sentences--Approved on a 28-4 vote a bill (SB 1505) by Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) to overturn a state Supreme Court decision that eliminated a required additional five-year sentence for a prior conviction of a felony involving great bodily injury upon conviction of a second similar crime. It went to the Assembly.

Indirect Initiatives--Defeated on a 25-11 vote a constitutional amendment (SCA 24) by Sen. Gary Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to require the Legislature to consider and vote on a proposed initiative when 80% of the needed signatures to qualify it for the ballot are collected, if the proponents request such action. A two-thirds majority (27 votes) was required for approval.