Battles Won - Battles Lost
2000, 1999, 1997-1998, 1995-1996, 1993-1994, 1992, 1991, 1989-1990, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983
1999
SB 60, Chapter 415, Statutes of 1999 Greater Accountability and Conservation by Metropolitan Water District- In response to a corruption scandal at the Met, this law requires establishment of an office and code of ethics covering issues as conflicts-of-interest, campaign contributions, etc., and mandates the increase efforts at water conservation.
SB 130, Chapter 245, Statutes of 1999 Requiring Sale of Trigger Locks with Guns- After failing the previous year, this legislation is aimed at protecting children in particular from fatal accidents in the handling of weapons at home.
SB 306 Training Parent Advocates for Schools The "Tom Hayden Parent Advocacy Program" is incorporated in a broader parent involvement package. Designed especially for immigrant parents, the program offers a 9 week course providing parents with knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the school decision-making.
SB 951, Chapter 673, Statutes of 1999 Protecting State Whistleblowers-Supports right of state workers to complain or refuse in face of illegal orders by supervisors or employers. Employer must provide that the reason for a disciplinary action is not related to the act of whistleblowing.
SB 1245, Chapter 216, Statutes of 1999 Compensation for World War 2 Slave Laborers- Provides legal basis for California residents who were exploited as slave labor in World War 2 to seek compensation from those companies that were enriched. SB 1245 primarily addresses Holocaust-based firms but also "allies" of Nazi Germany, i.e. Japanese corporations during World War 2.
SB 1260, Chapter 295, Statutes of 1999 LAUSD Watchdog with Subpoena Power- In response to the Belmont school construction scandal, Sen. Hayden introduced legislation in 1997 requiring an independent inspector-general at the LAUSD. The District asked that the legislation be suspended so that the office could be created by its local Board. It took until late 1998 for the District to establish the office. SB 1260 was necessary to provide subpoena power for the office.
AB 633, Chapter 554, Statutes of 1999 (Steinberg & Hayden) Obtaining Back Wages Owed Garment Workers- Incorporated in an Assembly bill, this legislation requires the garment industry to guarantee back wages for workers in sweatshops when violations are found by the state labor commissioner.
Budgeting $5.4 million for Tolerance Programs
>From 1977-99, the state budget included Hayden items totaling $5.4 million for the "Tools for Tolerance" program at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, public school outreach at the Skirball Cultural Center, and the YouThink program of the Jewish Federation Council.
$6.7 Million for LA River Watershed Restoration in State Budget, $10 million for Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. (state budget, sub. 2, Hayden items, 1999)
$250,000 in State Budget for Gabrielino Tongva Springs- To implement Task Force plans to preserve the springs and enhance environmental, cultural and educational opportunities on the site.
$2.1 Billion Park Bond for March 2000 Ballot
Finally incorporated in a bill by the Assembly Speaker, this bond is the largest in the nation's history. The Senate version by Sen. Hayden Equal Opportunity to Succeed Academically increased the measure by $600 million and incorporated provisions for protecting endangered species on dwindling habitat in Southern California. Also included is $100 million in "Murray-Hayden" funds targeted for parks and recreation in park-poor inner cities.
* Preventing state taxpayers from paying $45 million in local matching funds to build cement walls along the Los Angeles River (1996-99)
The County flood control bureaucracy insists on completely paving the LA River and calling it a "drainage project". This requires local funds as a match for federal dollars. The County has lobbied the state for 4 years to obtain an authorization which will trigger state funds to cover the local match. Sen. Hayden has stopped the County's effort, insisting that the County agree to restore and revitalize the LA River consistent with flood control. The County refuses, and battles every year to kill Sen. Hayden's efforts to recognize and establish restoration plans for the LA River. It's a standoff.
The 1999 Obituary
(Vetoes by Gov. Gray Davis)
SB 80 Hate Crimes Commissions - Establishes two hate crimes commissions, one in the Governor's office for statewide analysis and recommendations, and one in the Attorney General's office for law enforcement implications. Mandates that both commissions recommend ways to toughen state responses to rising hate crimes and armed hate groups attacking individuals on the basis of religion, race, gender and sexual orientation.
SB 81 Equal Opportunity for Academic Success - Requires disclosure of data by all schools on dropout rates, percentage of credentialed teachers, availability of quality textbooks and computers, college preparatory courses, after-school tutoring programs, in order to identify existing inequalities between schools in affluent areas and those in low-income neighborhoods. States California policy that all students deserve equal resources to compete on existing and future tests of achievement.
SB 323 Gang Violence Prevention Task Force - Vetoed as well by Pete Wilson, this measure would establish a roundtable between former gang members seeking a turn towards peace and mainstream organizations with resources such as business, labor, clergy and law enforcement. The goal would be to undertake local pilot projects at gang truces, and promote intervention strategies aimed at creating job opportunities in neighborhoods with high levels of gang violence. Additionally, the measure required a task force on reducing prison violence including voices of experts in violence prevention and former inmates.
SB 460 Protections against Sweatshops - Would presume workers' claims for back wages to be valid when employers fail to keep relevant records. Additionally, would establish a state procurement policy prohibiting the purchase of any materials made in sweatshops.
SB 751 Commission on Community Service - Would place in statute the existing Commission on Community Service created by executive order between Washington and Gov. Wilson. The agency distributes over $24 million in federal funds for Amer-I-Corps among other purposes. The bill would add representatives of at-risk youth on the board, and mandate that the commission advise the Governor on means to increase service learning programs on campuses.
SB 993 Child-Centered Health Standards at Polluted School Sites- This legislation, in response to toxic pollution at Belmont, Jefferson, South Gate and other inner city sites, required that the state set health standards specific to children's developmental and neurological needs. Additionally, it would place state toxics regulators in charge of determining safety for children at existing school sites, instead of self-certification by school Districts.
SB 1754 LA River Planning Commission- This would establish in the Resources Agency a broad-based group of citizen advocates and restoration experts to advise on expenditures of state funds for LA River Restoration. Additionally, it would serve a public outreach function to promote the vision of a restored watershed in Los Angeles. |
Tom Hayden is national co-director of No More Sweatshops!, a coalition of labor, clergy, community and campus advocates of "sweat-free" guidelines on public procurement and enforceable labor standards for corporate behavior.
