After years of discussion, the California Legislature has approved allowing undocumented immigrants the right to legally drive a vehicle in California. The governor intends to sign the bill.
From the Press-Entperise's Jim Miller: "Legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses headed to the governor’s desk late Thursday, Sept. 12, along with a bill increasing the minimum wage and dozens of other measures on the last full day of the 2013 session."
"Immigration groups and legislative allies have tried for more than a decade to restore the right of undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. A bill allowing the licenses was signed in 2003, but repealed by the Legislature months later after critics gathered enough signatures to qualify a voter referendum on the law."
"Thursday’s bill, which surfaced a day after its author said he had shelved the issue for the year, passed the Senate 28-8 and Assembly 55-20."
The process known as realignment has claimed an unintended victim -- a tiny city in Riverside County.
From Bloomberg's James Nash: "California’s newest city may become the first to self-destruct in 40 years, disincorporating because Governor Jerry Brown and lawmakers stripped funds from local government to reduce prison crowding."
"Jurupa Valley, a city of 100,000 formed two years ago about 50 miles (75 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, will file papers in December to revert to an unincorporated area of Riverside County, Mayor Verne Lauritzen said."
"California cities have struggled since 2011 when Brown signed a bill redirecting $130 million in vehicle-license fees earmarked for municipalities. He put the funds toward a program that shifted social services and thousands of state prisoners to county responsibility. Three other suburbs in Riverside County face the same predicament."
(For a detailed look at the issue, see this story that ran earlier in Capitol Weekly.)
Before they went home for the year, lawmakers also approved a major boost in the minimum wage.
From the LAT's Marc Lifsher: "A bill that would boost California's minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2016 won approval by the state Legislature on Thursday and was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown, who said he would sign it."
"The measure would raise the current $8 minimum wage to $9 an hour next July 1 and to $10 on Jan. 1, 2016."
"The 25% increase would be the first minimum-wage hike in California in five years and would put extra money in the pockets of an estimated 2.4 million Californians."
Attempts to rewrite California's premier environmental protection law were thwarted, but lawmakers passed a related measure to expedite the construction of a sports arena in Sacramento.
From the AP's Laura Olson: "The bill by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento would speed judicial review of any lawsuits filed against the proposed arena under the environmental law."
"The Senate sent the bill to the governor on a 32-5 vote, hours after the Assembly approved it 55-6."
"SB743 was expanded to include portions of a broader bill Steinberg had proposed to overhaul the law, commonly known as CEQA. The changes will help development projects in urban areas throughout the state."
The Legislature approved naming the western span of the Bay Bridge after Willie Brown, the former San Francisco mayor and Assembly speaker. But some hurdles remain.
From the Mercury-News' Mike Rosenberg: "The state Senate on Thursday voted 26-7 to give final approval to name the older, western span of the Bay Bridge after the celebrated but controversial former San Francisco mayor and state Assembly speaker. The Assembly had previously voted 68-0 to approve the plan."
"But whether the name will actually come to pass remains a mystery."
"Gov. Jerry Brown is opposed, saying he wants to keep the "iconic" name the bridge has had for 77 years. Normally, Brown can veto legislation, but because the bridge-naming plan is a nonbinding resolution, it will not reach the governor's desk.Still, the measure "requests" Caltrans, which Brown oversees, to put up signs declaring the new name, an action the governor has the power to overrule. Brown's office declined to comment."
