September 22, 2005 - Governor Signs Bills On Identity Theft, Military Families

Governor Signs Bills On Identity Theft, Military Families

News Article/SF Chronicle (AP)

September 22, 2005

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Thursday that increases the penalty for e-mail spam, bolsters identity theft laws and helps families of active military members.

IDENTITY THEFT: Sending unsolicited commercial e-mails — known as spam — in violation of California's anti-spam law will now be a misdemeanor, punishable by fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in county jail. The anti-spam law took effect last year, but this legislation, by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles, adds the punishment element.

The governor also signed a bill by Sen. Bob Margett, R-Arcadia, that prohibits inmates from employment that would give them access to personal information of private individuals.

And Schwarzenegger signed legislation that lets the Department of Managed Health Care run criminal background checks on prospective employees or contractors whose duties would include access to medical information.

MILITARY FAMILIES: Active duty personnel will be protected from some financial obligations after six bills were signed into law by the governor.

Among those approved is a measure from Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, that will require financial institutions to defer for six months payments on any obligation owed by the survivors of a member of the California National Guard killed in the line of duty.

A bill from Assemblyman Joe Baca, D-Rialto, ensures state workers called into service will receive full pay benefits and legislation from Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Los Feliz, requires community colleges give full refunds to guard members who are forced to leave school for service.

PENSION INVESTMENTS: California public pension fund investments have been excluded by some fund managers out of fear that the state's public records act would require disclosure of member company trade secrets. A bill from Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, sets specific disclosure guidelines for pension investments.

The author said that Schwarzenegger's signature on the bill means public pension funds will have access to higher profit funds that before they were excluded such as venture and hedge funds.

The disclosure guidelines were drafted in collaboration with the California Newspaper Association and the First Amendment Coalition.

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Governor Signs Bills On Identity Theft, Military Families


News Article/SF Chronicle (AP) September 22, 2005 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Thursday that increases the penalty for e-mail spam, bolsters identity theft laws and helps families of active military members. IDENTITY THEFT: Sending unsolicited commercial e-mails — known as spam — in violation of California's anti-spam law will now be a misdemeanor, punishable by fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in county jail. The anti-spam law took effect last year, but this legislation, by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles, adds the punishment element. The governor also signed a bill by Sen. Bob Margett, R-Arcadia, that prohibits inmates from employment that would give them access to personal information of private individuals. And Schwarzenegger signed legislation that lets the Department of Managed Health Care run criminal background checks on prospective employees or contractors whose duties would include access to medical information. MILITARY FAMILIES: Active duty personnel will be protected from some financial obligations after six bills were signed into law by the governor. Among those approved is a measure from Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, that will require financial institutions to defer for six months payments on any obligation owed by the survivors of a member of the California National Guard killed in the line of duty. A bill from Assemblyman Joe Baca, D-Rialto, ensures state workers called into service will receive full pay benefits and legislation from Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Los Feliz, requires community colleges give full refunds to guard members who are forced to leave school for service. PENSION INVESTMENTS: California public pension fund investments have been excluded by some fund managers out of fear that the state's public records act would require disclosure of member company trade secrets. A bill from Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, sets specific disclosure guidelines for pension investments. The author said that Schwarzenegger's signature on the bill means public pension funds will have access to higher profit funds that before they were excluded such as venture and hedge funds. The disclosure guidelines were drafted in collaboration with the California Newspaper Association and the First Amendment Coalition.
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