Article Source: CA State Senator Jerry Hill
Bills by Senator Jerry Hill on Fire Safety Inspections, Underage Marriage and Utility Ratepayer Protection Advance in Legislature
SACRAMENTO – Bills by state Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, to tighten accountability for fire safety inspections, to better protect minors from forced underage marriage, and to prevent ratepayers from shouldering costs resulting from utilities’ negligence advanced today in the Legislature.
Fire Inspections
The Assembly passed the senator’s fire safety inspection bill, SB 1205, sending it back to the Senate for concurrence on amendments. SB 1205 ensures that fire departments report annually to their local governing authority about compliance with state mandates for safety inspections of schools, apartments, hotels, motels and lodging houses.
The bill directs the report to be made when the local governing authority discusses its annual budget, or at another time specified by the local body. The legislation responds to an investigative news report that revealed several fire departments are years behind in their safety investigations of schools and apartments.
Underage Marriage
The Assembly also passed SB 273, a youth protection bill, which now returns to the Senate for concurrence on amendments. SB 273 increases safeguards for young people by expanding review requirements by Family Court Services and judges when individuals younger than 18 seek a court order to marry or enter into a domestic partnership in California.
In addition, SB 273 creates a requirement for local registrars and the state to compile statistics on marriages and domestic partnerships involving minors. The state stopped collecting such data in 1985. SB 273 is aimed at increasing protections for young people from being forced into marriage or domestic partnerships, or into relationships resulting from or perpetuating child abuse.
Protecting Ratepayers from Utilities’ Costs for Negligence
Also today, the Senate passed SB 819, concurring in amendments to the ratepayer protection bill and sending it to the governor for his review.
Introduced in the aftermath of the deadly Northern California wildfires last October, SB 819 prohibits electrical and gas companies from passing costs arising from damages caused by the utilities’ negligence to ratepayers. The bill protects ratepayers while providing incentives for utilities to act responsibly and fulfill the expectation that they operate and maintain safe and reliable systems. The Assembly passed SB 819 on Monday.
Friday, August 31, is the deadline for the Legislature to pass bills for the governor’s consideration. Governor Brown’s deadline to sign or veto bill is September 30.
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Leslie Guevarra
Communications Director
Office of State Senator Jerry Hill
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Robert Riechel
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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives
Source Credit: CA State Senator Jerry Hill
Web Site: http://sd13.senate.ca.gov/
