By Patrick McGreevy and Melanie Mason, Los Angeles Times
SACRAMENTO — Laboring late into the night Thursday to finish their work for the year, state lawmakers acted to allow many more immigrants who are in the country illegally to obtain California driver's licenses, a measure Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign.
A flurry of additional proposals sent to the governor would also affect immigrants, as well as gun users, teachers and job applicants. In addition, nannies, private healthcare aides and some other domestic workers would receive overtime pay under bill also headed for the governor's desk.
The driver's license measure would significantly expand the number of immigrants in the country illegally who could have such documents. Some young, undocumented residents are already eligible for licenses under state law, if they qualify for temporary federal work permits.
"This bill will enable millions of people to get to work safely and legally," Brown said in a statement issued immediately after the bill passed. "Hopefully, it will send a message to Washington that immigration reform is long past due."
The bill, AB 60, by Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville), originally would have provided licenses to immigrants who could show that they pay taxes or otherwise work in the United States. But it was changed to ask the Department of Motor Vehicles to determine what documentation would be required.
The bill requires a special mark and notation on the licenses, the initials DP (driver's privilege) instead of DL (driver's license). The notation would say the document "does not establish eligibility for employment or public benefit."
"In a perfect world we would have no mark on our driver's license," said Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens). But, he added, "there are hardworking immigrants who need driver's licenses to do the basic things many of us take for granted."
Another bill affecting immigrants, introduced last week to allow law licenses for people in the country illegally, also cleared the Legislature.
The measure, AB 1024 by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and backed by the Latino Caucus, was prompted by the well-publicized case of Sergio Garcia, who was brought to the country illegally as a minor and seeks a license to practice law.
The California Supreme Court, in a hearing last week, indicated that federal law may prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining law licenses. The court indicated the Legislature could act to address such cases.
Another measure would clamp down on fraud by people providing immigration services. That bill, AB 1159, also by Gonzalez, is intended to protect consumers by barring attorneys and consultants from accepting money for services related to changes in federal immigration laws before such changes have passed.
"People out there today are accepting payments for people to get into a line that doesn't exist," Gonzalez said.
A labor measure, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, would require time-and-a-half pay when personal attendants put in more than nine hours in a day or 45 hours in a week. Provisions to require meal breaks, rest periods and other benefits were dropped from the bill before it passed.
It also would mandate that the governor convene a committee of personal attendants to study the effects of the requirements on the attendants and their employers.
Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina) said domestic workers provide backbreaking care for children, seniors and the disabled, "yet they lack basic labor protections that any worker is afforded under state law and federal law."
Opponents said the measure could hurt low-income seniors who depend on home healthcare aides.
Assemblyman Allan R. Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) said AB 241 would "disrupt the continuity of care with its restriction on working hours and make care more costly."
Brown vetoed a similar measure last year by the same author, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).
Legislators also moved to expand the state's already stringent gun controls, voting to outlaw sales of rifles with detachable magazines and enlarge the list of crimes that result in a 10-year ban on possession of firearms.
Under SB 374, by Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), those who already own assault weapons without fixed magazines would be required to register them by July 1, 2014. A second bill, by state Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis), would expand the list of crimes that could disqualify Californians from possessing guns.
Wolk's bill would extend the ban to those convicted twice in three years of crimes that include being under the influence of a controlled drug, driving while intoxicated and possession or sale of some controlled substances.
Thursday's action follows the approval of nine gun-control bills earlier in the week in a state with some of the nation's toughest restrictions already on the books. The measures were introduced in response to the shooting death of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last year.
Lawmakers also sent the governor a bill to criminalize "revenge porn." They want to make it a misdemeanor to cause someone "substantial emotional distress or humiliation" by posting pictures of that person, of a sexual nature, on the Internet without the subject's consent.
Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) introduced the proposal in response to a relatively new phenomenon occurring when some couples end their relationship badly: One of the pair retaliates by putting nude pictures of the other online.
"It's a real and growing problem that has destroyed lives and continues to destroy lives," Cannella said.
The Legislature also approved a bill to streamline discipline and dismissal for teachers for misconduct.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) said AB 375 would save time and money "with the primary objective of keeping our students safe." The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo).
Opponents said it would hamper the ability of school districts to fully investigate and act against teachers accused of sexual abuse against children.
The measure was supported by the California Teachers Assn. and United Teachers Los Angeles but opposed by groups representing school boards and administrators.
It "may compel school districts to pay a teacher to leave for immoral or unprofessional conduct rather than move to dismissal," said Wes Smith, executive director of the Assn. of California School Administrators.
Another bill lawmakers passed would prohibit state and local agencies from requesting a job applicant's criminal record on an initial job application. Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) said his bill, AB 281, would allow people with a criminal history "to compete fairly for employment without compromising safety and security on the job."
Meanwhile, Lara shelved a proposal to eliminate the tax-exempt status of nonprofit groups such as the Boy Scouts of America that do not allow gay members. The bill would have affected state taxes only.
The Boy Scouts recently decided to allow openly gay boys to join but did not lift its ban on gays serving as adult leaders. Lara said he wanted time to refine the bill before it returns for a vote next year.
See the article at http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-77387557/
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
melanie.mason@latimes.com
Times staff writer Anthony York contributed to this report.
A flurry of additional proposals sent to the governor would also affect immigrants, as well as gun users, teachers and job applicants. In addition, nannies, private healthcare aides and some other domestic workers would receive overtime pay under bill also headed for the governor's desk.
The driver's license measure would significantly expand the number of immigrants in the country illegally who could have such documents. Some young, undocumented residents are already eligible for licenses under state law, if they qualify for temporary federal work permits.
"This bill will enable millions of people to get to work safely and legally," Brown said in a statement issued immediately after the bill passed. "Hopefully, it will send a message to Washington that immigration reform is long past due."
The bill, AB 60, by Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville), originally would have provided licenses to immigrants who could show that they pay taxes or otherwise work in the United States. But it was changed to ask the Department of Motor Vehicles to determine what documentation would be required.
The bill requires a special mark and notation on the licenses, the initials DP (driver's privilege) instead of DL (driver's license). The notation would say the document "does not establish eligibility for employment or public benefit."
"In a perfect world we would have no mark on our driver's license," said Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens). But, he added, "there are hardworking immigrants who need driver's licenses to do the basic things many of us take for granted."
Another bill affecting immigrants, introduced last week to allow law licenses for people in the country illegally, also cleared the Legislature.
The measure, AB 1024 by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and backed by the Latino Caucus, was prompted by the well-publicized case of Sergio Garcia, who was brought to the country illegally as a minor and seeks a license to practice law.
The California Supreme Court, in a hearing last week, indicated that federal law may prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining law licenses. The court indicated the Legislature could act to address such cases.
Another measure would clamp down on fraud by people providing immigration services. That bill, AB 1159, also by Gonzalez, is intended to protect consumers by barring attorneys and consultants from accepting money for services related to changes in federal immigration laws before such changes have passed.
"People out there today are accepting payments for people to get into a line that doesn't exist," Gonzalez said.
A labor measure, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, would require time-and-a-half pay when personal attendants put in more than nine hours in a day or 45 hours in a week. Provisions to require meal breaks, rest periods and other benefits were dropped from the bill before it passed.
It also would mandate that the governor convene a committee of personal attendants to study the effects of the requirements on the attendants and their employers.
Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina) said domestic workers provide backbreaking care for children, seniors and the disabled, "yet they lack basic labor protections that any worker is afforded under state law and federal law."
Opponents said the measure could hurt low-income seniors who depend on home healthcare aides.
Assemblyman Allan R. Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) said AB 241 would "disrupt the continuity of care with its restriction on working hours and make care more costly."
Brown vetoed a similar measure last year by the same author, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).
Legislators also moved to expand the state's already stringent gun controls, voting to outlaw sales of rifles with detachable magazines and enlarge the list of crimes that result in a 10-year ban on possession of firearms.
Under SB 374, by Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), those who already own assault weapons without fixed magazines would be required to register them by July 1, 2014. A second bill, by state Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis), would expand the list of crimes that could disqualify Californians from possessing guns.
Wolk's bill would extend the ban to those convicted twice in three years of crimes that include being under the influence of a controlled drug, driving while intoxicated and possession or sale of some controlled substances.
Thursday's action follows the approval of nine gun-control bills earlier in the week in a state with some of the nation's toughest restrictions already on the books. The measures were introduced in response to the shooting death of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last year.
Lawmakers also sent the governor a bill to criminalize "revenge porn." They want to make it a misdemeanor to cause someone "substantial emotional distress or humiliation" by posting pictures of that person, of a sexual nature, on the Internet without the subject's consent.
Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) introduced the proposal in response to a relatively new phenomenon occurring when some couples end their relationship badly: One of the pair retaliates by putting nude pictures of the other online.
"It's a real and growing problem that has destroyed lives and continues to destroy lives," Cannella said.
The Legislature also approved a bill to streamline discipline and dismissal for teachers for misconduct.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) said AB 375 would save time and money "with the primary objective of keeping our students safe." The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo).
Opponents said it would hamper the ability of school districts to fully investigate and act against teachers accused of sexual abuse against children.
The measure was supported by the California Teachers Assn. and United Teachers Los Angeles but opposed by groups representing school boards and administrators.
It "may compel school districts to pay a teacher to leave for immoral or unprofessional conduct rather than move to dismissal," said Wes Smith, executive director of the Assn. of California School Administrators.
Another bill lawmakers passed would prohibit state and local agencies from requesting a job applicant's criminal record on an initial job application. Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) said his bill, AB 281, would allow people with a criminal history "to compete fairly for employment without compromising safety and security on the job."
Meanwhile, Lara shelved a proposal to eliminate the tax-exempt status of nonprofit groups such as the Boy Scouts of America that do not allow gay members. The bill would have affected state taxes only.
The Boy Scouts recently decided to allow openly gay boys to join but did not lift its ban on gays serving as adult leaders. Lara said he wanted time to refine the bill before it returns for a vote next year.
See the article at http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-77387557/
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
melanie.mason@latimes.com
Times staff writer Anthony York contributed to this report.
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