Assembly Floor Action: Toxic: Passed and sent...

Assembly Floor Action: Toxic: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 56-16 vote a bill (AB 405) by Assemblyman Curtis R. Tucker (D-Inglewood) to require the state fire marshal to compile information on all fires in the state that involve toxic materials.

Nuclear: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 69-0 vote a resolution (ACR 49) by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) to establish a Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Nuclear Disposal and Nuclear Waste Management.

Wine: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 73-0 vote a resolution (ACR 30) by Assemblyman Eric Seastrand (R-Salinas) requesting the director of the state’s new Tokyo trade office to urge Pacific Rim countries to remove restrictive trade barriers that put California wines at a competitive disadvantage.

Committee Action: AIDS: The Assembly Health Committee approved a bill (AB 87) by Assemblyman Art Agnos (D-San Francisco) to declare that AIDS victims are physically handicapped people who are legally protected against discrimination in employment and housing. A 10-5 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee for more study.

Senate Floor Action: Confirmation: Rejected the gubernatorial appointment of Republican businessman J. William Orozco of Alhambra to the Board of Directors of the California Community Colleges. The vote was 25 to 6, but a two-thirds majority or 27 votes was required for confirmation. Reconsideration was granted for a second vote later.

Committee Action: Speed Limit: The Senate Transportation Committee approved a bill (AB 669) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) to authorize the state to increase the maximum speed limit to 65 m.p.h. from 55 m.p.h. on selected segments of rural interstate highways. An 8-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee for further study.

Obscenity: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 5) by Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh (D-Chula Vista) to expand the legal definition of obscenity and make it easier to prosecute pornography peddlers. A 6-4 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

Smoking: The Senate Health Committee approved a bill (SB 1067) by Sen. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland) to prohibit smoking in buses, taxis and light-rail trains. Violators would be subject to a minimum $100 fine. A 5-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.