Wilson OKs Bill Mandating Bungee Jumping Insurance

Gov. Pete Wilson has signed into law a bill requiring operators of bungee jumping services to maintain insurance policies for at least $500,000 liability in the event of death or injuries to customers.

The law, effective Jan. 1, was authored by Assemblyman Paul Horcher (R-Whittier). Horcher introduced the bill (AB 2778) after one of his constituents was killed last October while bungee jumping from a hot-air balloon near Perris. It was the nation’s first bungee jumping fatality.

“While I am not out to stop the practice,” Horcher said, “we do need to have a minimum level of oversight to keep unscrupulous operators from conducting unsafe rides.”

GOVERNOR

Bills Signed

Auto Insurance Fraud: AB 2699 by Assemblyman Paul Horcher (R-Whittier) to institute a six-month driver’s license suspension for anyone participating in a staged automobile accident for the purpose of filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim.

SENATE

Floor Action

Hate Crimes: Passed on a 28-1 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 3407) by Assemblyman Johan Klehs (D-San Leandro) to require the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards to develop a training course on hate crimes for police officers.

Roadside Rests: Passed on a 31-0 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 1067) by Assemblyman Richard Frazee (R-Carlsbad) to prohibit the solicitation of money within any roadside rest area or vista point.

DMV Records: Passed on a 21-9 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 2543) by Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Fullerton) to allow the state Department of Motor Vehicles to sell records for direct mail marketing purposes under certain conditions.

Check Cashing: Passed on a 25-1 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 2400) by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) to implement state regulation of check-cashing services, including a cap on fees that can be charged.

Contract Services: Passed on a 26-5 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 2665) by Assemblyman Willard Murray (D-Paramount) to let Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties offer assistance and services to private enterprise in return for a fee to help raise revenues.

Lawsuits: Passed and sent to the governor on a 30-0 vote a bill (SB 1264) by Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) to require a plaintiff to show a probability of winning a lawsuit against another person for speaking out on a public issue before it is heard in court.

Whistle-Blowers: Passed and sent to the governor on a 21-12 vote a bill (SB 1742) by Sen. Nicholas Petris (D-Oakland) to make employees fired for lodging complaints about inadequate workplace safety standards eligible for court-awarded damages and attorney fees.

Drunk Driving: Passed on a 31-0 vote and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments a bill (AB 2851) by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to require a court to ban any person convicted of drunk driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.20 or more from operating a vehicle unless an ignition interlock device has been installed on the vehicle. The device prevents a car from starting if the driver’s breath shows unsafe alcohol levels.

Miscellany

The annual California State Fair opens Friday and runs through Sept. 7 in Sacramento.