CAPITOL NOTEBOOK: END OF SEASON PUTS DAVIS' PEN TO WORK.

Byline: Terri Hardy and Dorothy Korber

AFTER the orgy of oratory and deal-making that marked the end of the legislative session on Sept. 10, Sacramento turned into a ghost town last week - with the empty Capitol as its Haunted Mansion.

The lawmakers fled to their districts, where they will sing their own praises and kiss babies until they return in January.

But one place in the Capitol is humming with activity. Gov. Gray Davis is slapping his signature - or veto - on laws at a feverish pace. One minute, Davis is deciding whether pets' medical records should be confidential. (Senate Bill 490 by Sen. David Kelley, R-San Diego.) The next, he's weighing whether certified nurse assistants can use that title on their name tags (Assembly Bill 1433 by Assemblyman Brett Granlund, R-Yucaipa.)

The governor signed both of those bills last week - as well as many measures that are more substantive.

Fiscally cautious, Davis has made it clear that he opposes big tax breaks, but he signed AB 1121, by Assemblyman George Nakano, D-Torrance, which reduces the state's Vehicle License Fee by an additional 10 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2000.

Davis also has axed a few bills. Privately, Democrats are grousing that Davis has rejected more bills from Democrats than Republicans. But don't expect many vetoes on major bills because the Dems generally jettisoned legislation that Davis indicated he would not support.

Two exceptions that are bound to make Davis squirm: So-called ``gay agenda bills'' and legislation that would substantially hike workers' compensation benefits.

School days

Davis OK'd a host of education bills that were in keeping with his moderate approach of gently pushing for accountability. Most of what was signed early in the process did not appear to be particularly groundbreaking, while more significant legislation - such as a package of bills that would set strict environmental guidelines for testing, monitoring and cleanup at school sites - remain on the governor's desk.

A sampling of those educational bills signed into law:

SB 176, by Sen. William ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, will extend the state's ``Schools of Choice'' program that allows participating school districts to accept transfer students from outside their boundaries at the request of the student's parents.

AB 471, by Assemblyman Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to report annually on the number of classroom teachers who have received credentials, internships and emergency permits in the previous year.

AB 117, by Assemblywoman Kerry Mazzoni, D-San Rafael, prohibits school districts from entering into a contract that grants exclusive advertising rights or exclusive sale of carbonated beverages without a public hearing. It also sets conditions for districts to enter into a contract for electronic products or services, like Channel One, that require the dissemination of advertising to students.

The governor vetoed a bill by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, that would have guaranteed admission to the University of California or California State University for community college students who earn an associate's degree in liberal arts.

Twilight years

Two bills designed to protect the elderly were signed into law. In a statement, Davis noted that many seniors who are frail or suffer from age-related dementia must depend on others for their care and to manage their affairs.

AB 1499, by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, requires facilities that care for the aged to train their staffs how to recognize and report elder abuse. Included are nursing homes, hospices and adult day care centers. The training program will be developed by the Department of Justice.

AB 925, by Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, requires professional conservators and guardians to register in a statewide registry maintained by the state Department of Justice.