What Has The Assemblyman From Lake Elsinore Done Lately?

Want to know what your local politicians are doing for you?

A slew of bills, mostly aiming to loosen regulations and smooth out some government procedures, have been put forward by local State Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore).

The bills, which Jeffries co-authored and introduced before the Feb. 18 deadline, focus on changing the House’s procedures, increasing local governments’ authority, changing public safety policy, and making small changes to water supply policy and taxation.

Here's a glance at the proposed bills:

Jeffries 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 them.

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 would amend the state’s constitution to stagger the way the House meets. Currently, 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 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 would 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 would 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.

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 Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection to check the background of all permanent new employees.

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

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

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

AB 83 would amend the public resources code to loosen requirements for installing recycled water lines in the public right of way. Currently, a local municipality has to conduct a study on how the line will impact the environment. This bill would 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 slated for November’s ballot that proposes selling bonds for a project designed 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.

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

AB 1190 would 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.