Governor

Signed into law a bill (AB 606) by Assemblyman Gray Davis (D-Los Angeles) to increase penalties for kidnaping children, establish a state reward fund to help locate missing children and set up a toll-free telephone hot line to receive and relay information.

Assembly Committee Action:

Nuclear Power Plants: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee approved a resolution (SJR 54) asking the federal government to lift the $650-million-per-accident liability limit for nuclear power plants and replace it with a higher level. The federal government would assume liability for anything over the new limit. A 10-1 vote sent the resolution to the Assembly floor.

Higher Education Bonds: The Assembly Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (SB 2366) by Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) to submit a $700-million higher education construction bond issue to the voters Nov. 4. A 21-1 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor.

Senate Floor Action:

Drugs: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 26-3 vote a bill (AB 4372) by Assemblyman Phillip Isenberg (D-Sacramento) to permit registered nurses to dispense certain drugs to patients upon the order of a licensed physician when working in certain clinics.

Sewage Bonds: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 33-0 vote a bill (AB 1012) by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) to place a $150-million bond issue on the Nov. 4 ballot to finance efforts to clean up sewage, industrial wastes and toxic chemicals that flow into San Diego and Imperial counties from Mexico.

Water Bonds: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 28-0 vote a bill (AB 2668) by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) to place a $200-million safe drinking water bond issue on the fall election ballot.

Mental Health Bonds: Passed and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments on a 27-1 vote a bill (AB 1963) by Assemblyman Johan Klehs (D-San Leandro) to place an $80-million bond issue for renovation of county mental health treatment facilities on the November ballot.