SB 877 - Hollingsworth
Child Pornography: Evidence
This bill would allow a court to issue orders restricting the defense’s use of child pornography evidence to ways that are reasonably necessary to developing and defending a case.
Sponsor: Danielle Legacy Foundation
Last amended: 4/23/03
Consultant: Greg Hurner (916) 445-9781
Status: Assembly Public Safety

B 884 - Poochigan
Lewd Conduct with Minor
This bill would make kidnapping with the intent to touch a child for sexual gratification aggravated kidnapping, punishable by a life sentence. It would make soliciting a minor for the purposed of sexually motivated touching punishable as an attempt to commit lewd acts upon a minor.
Sponsor: California District Attorneys Association (916) 443-2017
Last amended: 4/29/03
Consultant: Amy Rutschow (916) 445-9600
Hearing: Senate Appropriations Suspense

Child Safety

AB 256 - Vargas
Candy: Lead Levels
This bill would create, within the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, a program to monitor lead levels in all imported candy sold or distributed in the state. It would require the Department of Health and Social Services to establish a maximum allowable lead level for candy and require candy to meet that level.
Sponsor: Environmental Health Coalition (619) 235-0281
Last amended: 5/6/03 Consultant: Victoria Harris (916) 319-2079
Hearing: Assembly Appropriations Suspense: 5/28

AB 952 - Vargas
Child Identification Kits
This bill would require, for two years, the Department of Education to send child identification kits received as donations to elementary and secondary schools for redistribution to parents. It would declare September as Child Identification Month during which schools, community organizations, and child care center would educate parents about the importance of obtaining and preserving identification information for their children. The bill would require the department to report on the effectiveness of the program by June 30, 2006.
Last Amended: 4/21/03
Consultant: Victoria Harris (916) 319-2079
Hearing: Assembly Appropriations Suspense: 5/28

AB 1697 - Vargas
Children: Rear Seat of Car
This bill would prohibit children under 60 pounds and under the age of 6 from riding in the front seat of a car, with specified exceptions. It would reqiure warnings to be issued during the first year of enforcement and a fine of $100 beginning in 2005.
Introduced: 4/21/03
Consultant: Debra Gravert (916) 319-2079
Status: Passed Assembly * Conveyed to Senate

Education

AB 8 - Daucher
Local Education and Accountability
Pilot Program
This bill would allow up to 3 County Offices of Education to participate in a 3-year pilot program to offer intervention services to low-performing schools in their district. The County Offices of Education would receive forgivable loans of $85 per pupil for elementary and middle school programs and $105 per pupil for high school programs. Schools showing substantial improvement (greater than the statewide average for similar schools) during the pilot program would hae the loans forgiven. Urgency measure.
Sponsor: Riverside county Office of Education (916)325-1162
Last amended: 3/28/03
Consultant: Dave Heckler (916)319-2072
Hearning: Assembly Appropriation Suspence 5/28

SB 19 - Escutia
Supplemental Instruction
This bill would allow schools to offer supplemental instruction to all students in grades 2 to 6 that are at risk of retention (currently schools are restricted to 5% of the previous years enrollment.).
Last amended: 4/29/03
Consultant: Carrie Marovich (916) 445-3090
Hearing: Senate Appropriateions Suspense 5/29

Nutrition

SB 65 - Torlakson
Schools: Exclusive Food Contracts
This bill would require school boards to hold a public hearing at a regularly scheduled meeting prior to entering into or allowing schools to enter into exclusive contracts for advertising or sale of food or beverages. It would require exclusive food or beverage contracts to be clearly edentified on the meeting agenda.
Last amended: 5/5/03
Consultant: Tom Higgins (916) 445-6083
Status: Assembly Education

SB 677 - Ortiz
Schools: Resticted Beverages
This bill would, beginning September 1, 2005, anly allow fruit-based drinks without added sweeteners, drinking water, and milk to be sold to a pupil at an elementary school. It would, beginning September 1, 2005, only allow fruit-based frinks, drinking water, milk, and electrolyte replacement beverages to be sold to a pupil at a junior high or middle school from 1/2 hour before school to 1/2 hour after. The bill would , beginning in September 1, 2006, limit beverages sold at high schools the same as for junior high and middle schools.
Last amended: 5/5/03
Consultant: Andrea Margolis (916) 445-5965
Status: Senate Floor

SB 678 - Ortiz
Food Contracts: Confidentiality
This bill would prohibit public schools from entering into food and beverage contracts after January 1, 2004 that contain a confidentiality clause. It would require schools and school districts to make food and beverage contracts available to the public.
Last amended: 5/6/03
Consultant: Andrea Margolis (916) 445-5965
Status: Assembly Education

Public Assistance