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Wrapping up the legislative session

September 11, 2005

Journalists -- Would require the Department of Corrections to allow journalists to interview prison inmates. (SB 239 by Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles)

Organ transplants -- Would prohibit insurers from denying coverage for organ transplants based solely on a patient's HIV status. (AB 228 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood)

Organic fish -- Would ban the labeling of fish or seafood as "organic" until the federal or state government creates formal standards. (SB 730 by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough)

Paparazzi -- Would make photographers who threaten bodily injury in order to capture a photograph liable for physical invasion of privacy. Violators would lose any profits from the photos and be subject to triple damages. (AB 381 by Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-San Fernando)

Pedicures -- Would set minimum cleanliness standards for pedicure equipment in nail salons and require salons to notify customers if the businesses failed inspections. (AB 1263 by Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco)

Pesticides -- Would ban the use of experimental pesticides on school grounds. (AB 405 by Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-San Francisco)

Pocket bikes -- Would ban pocket bikes -- mini-motorcycles that stand about 2 feet high, go 50 mph and do not meet state safety requirements -- from public highways. (AB 1051 by Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Palm Desert)

Prescription drugs -- Would require the state to establish a website to link California consumers with pharmacies in Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. (AB 73 by Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Glendale)

Sex offenders -- Would create a board of experts to make recommendations on treatment and monitoring of the estimated 100,000 adult convicted sex offenders who are out of prison in California. (AB 632 by Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park)

Smoking -- Would require health insurers to cover the cost of smokers' efforts to kick the habit, including counseling and nicotine gum and patches. (SB 576 by Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento)

Supplements -- Would prohibit high school athletes from using dietary supplements banned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Would also require high school coaches to be taught about the harmful effects of steroids and performance-enhancing dietary supplements. (SB 37 by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough)

Tracking parolees -- Would allow the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and county probation departments to track parolees and people on probation with global positioning devices. (SB 619 by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough)

Viagra -- Would prohibit Medi-Cal, the state-subsidized health program, from providing or paying for erectile dysfunction drugs for registered sex offenders. (AB 522 by Assemblyman George Plescia, R-San Diego)

Violent video games -- Would make it a crime punishable by a $1,000 fine to sell or rent video games to children under 18 that depict "heinous, cruel or depraved" violence to human beings. (AB 1179 by Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco)

X-rays -- Would require the Department of Health Services to set regulations for X-ray machines in California to ensure that the lowest possible dose of radiation is used for routine medical and dental care. (AB 929 by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach)

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\o7Some bills signed by the governor:

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Car buyers -- Allows car buyers to pay no more than $250 on cars priced at less than $40,000 for the option to return it in two days for any reason. Also caps the profit dealers can pay themselves for arranging loans and requires dealers to give buyers clear, concise disclosure on service contracts and maintenance plans. (AB 68 by Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-San Fernando)

Elder abuse -- Requires bank and credit union employees to report suspected financial abuse of elders, with a maximum civil fine of $1,000 -- paid by the bank, not by the employee -- for failure to report. (SB 1018 by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto)

Garbage trucks -- Requires that all garbage trucks purchased after 2010 be outfitted with cameras and video displays that allow drivers to see better when backing up. (AB 1637 by Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, R-Monrovia)

Military families -- Allows school districts to give preference to the children of military families in inter-district transfers. (AB 208 by the late Assemblyman Mike Gordon, D-El Segundo, and Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford)

Police testimony -- Allows retired police officers to testify in court about what crime witnesses and victims said during investigations they handled before retirement. (AB 557 by Assemblywoman Betty Karnette, D-Long Beach)

Politician pay -- Restricts city council members from paying themselves more than $300 a month in the smallest cities or $1,000 a month in the largest. Also bans city council members from paying themselves more than $150 a month to sit on any city commission, committee, board or authority. (AB 11 by Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate)

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