GovernorAppointed James Rowland of Fresno as director...

Governor

Appointed James Rowland of Fresno as director of the state Department of Corrections. A Republican, Rowland, 55, replaces Daniel J. McCarthy of San Luis Obispo, who retired. The job pays $82,117 a year and is subject to Senate confirmation. Assembly Floor Action:

Litter: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 64-1 vote a bill (AB 480) by Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) to increase the minimum fine for first-time litter offenders from $25 to $100 and allow judges to order second offenders to pick up litter as a condition of probation.

AIDS: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 61-4 vote a bill (AB 250) by Assemblywoman Teresa P. Hughes (D-Los Angeles) to eliminate criminal and civil liability for physicians who disclose positive AIDS antibody test results to the spouse of the tested patient. Committee Action:

Alcohol Warnings: The Assembly Health Committee approved a bill (AB 1745) by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) to require labels on alcoholic beverage containers warning pregnant women not to drink because alcohol can cause birth defects. An 11-5 vote sent the bill to the Assembly floor. Similar legislation has been rejected in the Senate.

Bartenders: The Assembly Governmental Organization Committee approved a bill (AB 1980) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos) to set up a state commission to develop training standards to help bartenders and cocktail waitresses prevent patrons from becoming drunk drivers. A 10-4 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

Wine Coolers: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee reversed itself and approved a bill (AB 612) by Assemblyman Byron D. Sher (D-Palo Alto) to add wine and hard liquor cooler containers to last year’s bottle and can recycling law aimed at reducing California’s highway litter problem. A 7-5 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. It previously was rejected by a 6-6 vote.

Medigap Insurance: The Assembly Finance and Insurance Committee approved a bill (AB 1108) by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) to regulate so-called Medigap insurance that is intended to protect the elderly who are not fully covered by the federal Medicare program. The bill sets up a special state investigative unit to look into senior citizens’ complaints about the supplemental insurance plans. An 11-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. Senate Committee Action:

Parole: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a constitutional amendment (SCA 9) by Sen. Daniel E. Boatwright (D-Concord) to give the governor the right to block the parole of convicted murderers after reviewing their cases. The measure must be approved by the Legislature and ratified by the voters. An 8-3 vote sent the bill to the Constitutional Amendments Committee. Similar legislation died in the Assembly last year.

AIDS: The Judiciary Committee also approved a bill (SB 1007) by Sen. John Doolittle (R-Citrus Heights) to require convicted prostitutes and sex offenders to take AIDS tests. A 7-2 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

License: The Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 1657) by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to require a one-year suspension of the driver’s licenses of persons under the age of 21 convicted of a drug- or alcohol-related offense. A 6-1 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Elections: The Senate Elections Committee rejected a bill (SB 796) by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) to move up California’s presidential primary election from June to April. The bill, designed to give the state more clout in choosing presidential nominees, was defeated by a 2-3 vote.