Assemblyman Achadjian gives legislative update
Katcho Achadjian’s Legislative Update
Katcho Achadjian, the California State Assemblyman representing Paso Robles and surrounding areas, recently issued an update on legislation at the State Capitol:
The Legislative year is now in full swing and the capitol has been moving at a non-stop pace. There are still thousands of bills to be heard in various committees or on the floor of the Senate or Assembly. I have been working hard with my legislative colleagues to pass the legislation I have authored, a majority of which was brought to me by local elected officials, and will correct a need on the Central Coast. Here are a few pieces of legislation that I am authoring this year:
AB 65: Rape Prosecution –This bill, which is sponsored by Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley, is inspired by an actual case in Santa Barbara County. It would protect victims of rape by clarifying that a perpetrator who induces a victim into sexual activity by impersonating anyone other than themselves is guilty of felony rape. AB 65 is a reintroduction of a bill I carried in 2011, AB 765, which was held by the Senate Public Safety Committee despite receiving unanimous support in the State Assembly.
AB 65 was approved unanimously by the Assembly and will now move through the Senate committee process.
AB 347: Arson Registry –This bill, which is also sponsored by Santa Barbara District Attorney Joyce Dudley, would assist the approximately 750 paid, part time and volunteer fire agencies in California to have access to the Department of Justice’s Arson Registry. This information is critical in ensuring fire agencies have the information they need to stop dangerous arsonists.
AB 347 was approved unanimously by the Assembly Public Safety Committee and is now pending a hearing before the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 461: Liquor License – This bill would provide additional liquor licenses to be sold in San Luis Obispo County. If approved, five additional liquor licenses could be sold to eating establishments with 50 or more diners until January 1, 2017. Current law pegs the number of liquor licenses to county population without regard to factors such as tourism which may increase the demand for licenses in certain counties. Similar legislation was approved for Marin County in 2012.
AB 461 passed unanimously through Assembly Governmental Organization Committee and is now pending a hearing in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 610: State Hospital Court Reimbursement – This bill would require the county where a state hospital patient committed a crime to reimburse the county with the state hospital for non-treatment costs associated with involuntary medical hearings.This bill would alleviate the financial burden placed upon San Luis Obispo County for involuntary medical hearings involving patients from other counties housed at Atascadero State Hospital.
AB 610 passed unanimously out of Assembly Local Government Committee and is now pending a hearing in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 1340: Enhanced Treatment Units at State Hospitals – This bill would require all State Hospitals to establish and maintain an enhanced treatment unit where patients who have assaulted a hospital employee or another patient can be placed. These treatment units will give State Hospitals the tools necessary to better protect their employees and patients from assault.
AB 1340 was approved unanimously in Assembly Health Committee and is now pending a hearing before the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
AB 517: Cal OS/HA Reimbursement – This bill would add local governments to the list of agencies that are currently eligible for refunds on fines imposed by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Association if certain requirements are met.
AB 517 was approved unanimously by the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee and is currently pending in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
To find out more information on any current or past legislation, you may wish to visit: leginfo.ca.gov.
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