SENATE APPROVES VALLEY STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Legislation to make state agencies keep economic statistics on the Antelope Valley was approved unanimously by the state Senate and will now head to the Assembly for consideration.

Senate Bill 143, authored by Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, was approved by a 35-0 vote on Monday in the Senate.

``This legislation will provide businesses with accurate information that will depict the Antelope Valley as one of the most affordable and business-friendly regions in Los Angeles County,'' Runner said. ``This information, in turn, will assist with attracting more business to our affordable region and keep them from fleeing out of state.''

SB 143 requires data and statistical reports for California's counties to include a separate breakdown for the Antelope Valley. The bill covers data collected by the Board of Equalization, the Franchise Tax Board, the Employment Development Department, the Department of Industrial Relations and the Department of Finance.

The data would help in planning for issues facing the region, such as transportation, land use and education, supporters said.

The bill is supported by city officials from Lancaster and Palmdale and from economic development groups such as the Antelope Valley Board of Trade, the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

A bill requiring the state to provide a separate breakdown of statistics for the San Fernando Valley was passed last year.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com