SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on legislation signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown (all times local):
4:45 p.m.
California Gov. Jerry Brown says two bills aimed at helping people recover from a massive gas leak in Southern California are unnecessary and is vetoing them.
One bill would have given residents near Aliso Canyon and other victims of man-made pollution an extra year to sue for relief.
AB2748 also would have held polluters like Southern California Gas Co. liable even if they provide disaster relief or other interim payments to people harmed.
Brown says that would eliminate the incentive for companies to settle legal disputes.
He writes in a veto message that nothing indicates current law is insufficient to hold polluters accountable.
He also vetoed SB1304, which would have added environmental contamination to the reasons a property can be reassessed. Brown says state law already allows reassessments for changing market conditions.
___
4:25 p.m.
Gov. Jerry Brown is approving a series of new safety requirements for natural gas storage wells following a leak that drove thousands of families from their homes in the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles.
The Democratic governor said Monday he’s signed SB887, which requires continuous monitoring for leaks and regular inspections at natural gas storage facilities.
Democratic Sen. Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills, who wrote the legislation, says California needs to be more proactive about monitoring energy infrastructure for potential problems.
Earlier this month, Southern California Gas Co. pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of failing to promptly report the gas leak as part of a $4 million settlement with prosecutors. The company waited three days before notifying the state of the problem at the Aliso Canyon facility.
___
3:40 p.m.
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation to get taxpayers’ donations into the hands of charities more quickly following a critical report by The Associated Press.
Brown signed SB1476 over the weekend. The legislation was introduced after an AP investigation found at least one-tenth of all charitable donations made on tax returns went unspent.
AP’s review found nearly $10 million in 29 funds was awaiting delivery to or distribution by state agencies and another $278,000 had reverted to state coffers.
Taxpayers have donated more than $100 million through the check-off system since 1982. They benefit social services, public health, environmental protection and other charitable causes.
His bill would continuously appropriate the aid and retire a fund if taxpayers provide less than $250,000 in one year.
__
2:20 p.m.
California Gov. Jerry Brown is approving legislation decriminalizing prostitution for minors and taking other steps to make life after human trafficking easier for those forced into it.
The Democratic governor announced Monday he signed SB1322 to ban police from charging people under the age of 18 with prostitution.
He also signed bills allowing people to defend themselves against additional criminal charges or records if they were coerced to commit an offense as a human trafficking victim.
Others will raise the age from 13 to 15 that kids can testify outside a courtroom in human trafficking cases, protect victims’ names from disclosure and mandate they have access to county services.
In vetoing financial assistance for sex-crime victims, Brown says the state budget includes $19 million next year for similar services.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.