SACRAMENTO, July 31, 2007 – While court reporters, culinary students and local voters may seem to have little in common, three recently signed bills provide a collective victory for them all - and California communities at large.   “These bills resolve necessary procedural and administrative issues that enable us to protect small business owners, support students and simplify election procedures for local voters,” said Price.

AB 1211 provides that requesting attorneys pay court reporters for deposition products in a timely manner.   There are approximately 10,000 court reporters in the state of California and their work is integral to the California justice system.  Due to a lack of clarification in the law, a court reporter would perform services and multiple benefiting parties would deny financial responsibility; leaving the reporter unpaid and with limited means for legal redress.  The new legislation will allow a group of professionals, comprised of mostly women and independent contractors, to rely on more stable income to support their families.

AB 1598 provides an exception for culinary schools to the prohibition of alcohol use in or on the grounds of public schools.  Existing law prohibits any person to possess, consume, sell, give, or deliver to another person any alcoholic beverage in or on any public school or school grounds.  Although there are many exceptions to the law, California’s public universities and colleges’ culinary arts programs lack the option to sell or serve alcohol at their events.  This prohibition hinders their academic programming capabilities.  AB 1598 allows culinary arts programs to acquire, possess, use, sell, or consume beer or wine at public university and college campuses when used in connection with a course of instruction, sponsored dinner, or meal demonstration. 

AB 1732 is an election omnibus bill introduced by the Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting, Chaired by Assemblymember Price, to help streamline and clarify local election procedures.  The three provisions of the bill supply the following:  a governing board or body cannot serve as an election official for its elections; proponents of city referendums will have sufficient time to oppose and petition a referendum; and candidate statements by candidates for local non-partisan office cannot reference other candidates for that office. 

“These three bills will help relieve the pitfalls and confusion so often associated with bureaucracy and their journey was completely devoid of stereotypical, bureaucratic wrangling,” said Assemblymember Price.  “I am pleased that my colleagues and I were able to work together so amicably to have these bills signed by the Governor”.  In his freshman Assembly year, Assemblymember Price has introduced 30 legislative measures, including expanded voter rights, increased benefits for California’s workers, more financial aid for students, and greater access to capital for small business owners. 
 
Assemblymember Curren Price serves the 51st Assembly District, which includes Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Playa Vista, Westchester, Lawndale, West Athens, Lennox, Alondra Park, West Compton, Del Aire, and Willowbrook, as well as portions of the unincorporated area of Ladera.