While approving many bills recently, Gov. Jerry Brown did veto a few.
Senate Bill 328, which would have limited the start of middle school and high school days to 8:30 a.m., was vetoed last week.
In his message, Brown said, “This is a one-size-fits-all approach that is opposed by teachers and school boards.
“Several schools have already moved to later start times. Others prefer beginning the school day earlier,” he added. “These are the types of decisions best handled in the local community.”
Idyllwild trustee to the Hemet Unified School District Vic Scavarda concurred with the governor’s decision.
“I don’t have a problem with the research behind this,” he wrote in an email. “It just seems like it should be a local issue and not one dictated by the state.”
Its effect on HUSD might have been greater than on Idyllwild School, he added. “As far as Idyllwild goes, we start about 8:20 so it wouldn’t be much of a shift. However, in the valley, it would impact Zero periods, maybe, and it would definitely impact transportation schedules all over the state.”
Brown also vetoed Assembly Bill 2573. This bill would allow beer “manufacturers” to give up to five cases of glassware to beer retailers. “I worry that this law creates an economic disadvantage for small beer manufacturers …”
But he did sign AB 2989, which authorizes local jurisdictions to establish rules and regulations for the use of “stand up scooters” on public right-of-ways. The bill does limit the requirement of helmets to individuals younger than age 17. This has caused concern about adults who ride these scooters.
The governor also signed two bills, SB 910 and SB 1108, which reject and effectively prevent enforcement of the Trump Administration’s efforts to limit health care plans. Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, sponsored and authored both bills.
SB 910 would prohibit a health insurer from issuing, selling, renewing or offering a short-term (less than 12 months) limited-duration health insurance policy. These policies do not have to meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
Hernandez described his bill as a ban on “junk insurance.”
SB 1108 would eliminate the new federal work requirements for Medicaid. California provides Medicaid through its Medi-Cal program.
“With the signing of SB 1108, we are sending a strong message to the President that we will not implement Medicaid work requirements in our state,” Hernandez said in his release after the bill’s signing.
