1997
Digest of
Significant Legislation

I. AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES
Farm Labor
General Agriculture
Pests and Pesticides
Water Resources and Conservation

II. BUSINESS AND LABOR
Economic Development
Financial Institutions
Labor Relations
Small Business
Unemployment Insurance
Workers' Compensation
World Trade and Tourism
Miscellaneous

III. CONSUMER ISSUES

IV. CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND JUDICIARY
Death Penalty
Domestic Violence
Sex Offenders
Gang Violence
Child Abuse
Other Crimes and Sentencing
Controlled Substances
Drunk Driving/Vehicle Code
Procedural
Juvenile Justice
Weapons
Trial Court Funding Reform
Other Courts and Judges
Juries
Attorneys
Victims' Rights
Prisons and Prisoners
Law Enforcement
Family Law
Civil Law

V. DISASTER RELIEF

VI. EDUCATION
Bilingual Education
Charter Schools
Child and Day Care
Class Size Reduction
Higher Education
School Employees
School Facilities
School Finance Legislation
School Safety
Miscellaneous

VII. ELECTIONS AND REAPPORTIONMENT
Campaign Financing
Elections
Political Reform

VIII. ENERGY AND UTILITIES
Energy
Utilities

IX. ENVIRONMENT
Air Pollution
Coastal Resources
Endangered Species
Environmental Quality
Forestry
Solid Waste Management
Miscellaneous

X. GOVERNMENT
Administrative Law
Alcoholic Beverage Control
Federal Issues
Gaming
Horseracing
Immigration Issues
Legislature
Local Government
Lottery
Public Employees
State Government

XI. HEALTH
AIDS
Cancer
Developmentally Disabled
Health Professionals
Medi-Cal
Mental Health
Public Health and Safety
Seismic Safety

XII. HOUSING
Finance and Development
Mobilehomes
Miscellaneous

XIII. INSURANCE
Automobile Insurance
Earthquake Insurance
Health Insurance
Miscellaneous

XIV. MILITARY BASE ISSUES
Reductions and Conversions

XV. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES
Other Welfare Reform
Public Assistance Reform
Miscellaneous

XVI. REVENUE AND TAXATION
Income Tax/Bank and Corporation Tax
Other Income
Property Tax
Sales Tax
Miscellaneous

XVII. SENIOR CITIZEN ISSUES
Seniors' Legislation

XVIII. STATE BUDGET
Budget Act
Budget Restoration
Court Funding
Education Issues
Environmental Issues
General Government
Health
Income Taxation
Local Government
Public Social Services
Transporation Issues
Water
Miscellaneous Budget Issues

XIX. TOXICS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE ISSUES
Toxics Waste Legislation

XX. TRANSPORTATION
Bridge Funding
Development and Financing
Motor Vehicle Emissions
Miscellaneous

XXI. VETERANS' ISSUES
Veterans' Legislation

The Digest of Legislation Book includes all the measures that were chaptered into law, vetoed by the Governor, and other two-year bills and resolutions that are of significance. The Digest of Legislation is divided into subject areas, with each subject area containing one or more subsections.

The first year of the 1997-98 Legislative Session was very productive, with many issues successfully enacted into law. They are as follows:

1. Providing for $1 billion in income/corporation tax relief: SB 5 and SB 1233.
   
2. Implementation of the federal Welfare Reform Law: AB 1008, AB 1260, AB 1542, and AB 1576.
   
3. Implementation of federally mandated child health care system: SB 903 and AB 1126.
   
4. Repealing the current immunity from product liability actions conferred upon tobacco manufacturers and industry research groups in order for California to join the effort to receive monies from any judgments against the tobacco industry to pay for health costs for those who have had health problems due to smoking: SB 67 and AB 1603.
   
5. Retrofitting State-owned bridges: SB 60 and SB 226.
   
6. Reforming vehicle smog-check programs: SB 42, AB 57, AB 208, and AB 1492.
   
7. Local government reorganization: AB 62, AB 303, and AB 1484.
   
8. Expediting death penalty cases: SB 513.
   
9. Trial court funding: AB 233, AB 1571, and AB 1574.
   
10. Providing for criminal background checks on future applicants for school employment: AB 1610 and AB 1612.
    
11. Endangered species reform: SB 231, SB 879, and AB 21.
    
12. Providing for more education funding and class size reduction, as reflected in the State Budget and trailer bills, including a Digital High School Education Technology Grant Program: AB 64, AB 107, AB 1571, and AB 1578.
    
13. Making the collection of child support payments more efficient: SB 247, AB 573, and AB 1395.
    
14. Providing for gaming control: SB 8.
    
15. Providing on-line disclosure of candidate and committee reports to be administered by the Secretary of State: SB 49; and prohibiting foreign governments and entities from contributing to any initiative, referendum, or recall campaign: SB 109.
    
16. Replacement of the Pupil Testing and Incentive Program with a new Standard Testing and Reporting Program. SB 376.
    
17. Providing for a High-Risk Youth Education and Public Safety Program to assist county offices of education and school districts to implement targeted prevention and intervention strategies for youth who are seriously at risk of becoming chronic, repeat offenders: SB 1095.
    
18. Placing additional restrictions and conditions on the exercise of driving privileges by minors holding an instruction permit or provisional driver's license in order to combat teenage driving deaths: SB 1329.
    
19. Providing a response to the environmental risks associated with MTBE (gasoline additive): SB 521 and AB 592.
    
20. Providing for Disaster Flood Relief due to the 1997 January storms: SB 181, SB 1313, SB 4X, SB 11X, AB 1X, AB 2X, and AB 10X.