LOS ANGELES --- Majority Leader Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) introduces new legislation that will provide a parking fee exemption for California veterans. The new legislation would provide veterans with a special license plate that will bar them from paying parking fees for specified state of local authority parking facilities.

“This is for our veterans who have made an extraordinary contribution to our country and deserves this small token as gratitude for their service. They deserve so much more than this,” states Majority Leader Bass.

Veterans who would qualify for this exemption include Pearl Harbor Survivors and Prisoners Of War as well as Legion of Valor, Medal of Honor and Purple Heart awardees. Culver City resident Neil Rubenstein brought this legislation idea to the Majority Leader.

“It is always pleasing when constituents get involved in the legislative process. Mr. Rubenstein was instrumental in spearheading the campaign to get this legislation developed. I am proud that he is a member of the 47th Assembly District,” said the Majority Leader.

This legislation will affect approximately 3,000 California veterans. Culver City and Fresno have municipal ordinances that do the same as this bill—we are just taking it statewide; similar state measure is happening in Florida.

Karen Bass has been a State Assembly Member representing Los Angeles’ 47th District since 2005. Speaker Fabian Núñez selected Bass as the Majority Leader for the California State Assembly during the 2007-2008 legislative session, making her the first African American and the first woman to hold this leadership position. As the Assemblymember for the 47th District, Karen Bass serves the cities and communities of Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, the Crenshaw District, Little Ethiopia and portions of Korea Town and South Los Angeles.