STATE LEGISLATORS APPROVE FLURRY OF BILLS LAWMAKERS ADDRESS WATER FIGHT, IDENTITY THEFT, MTA TAX HIKE.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

SACRAMENTO - As the end of the legislative session approaches, lawmakers approved dozens of bills Thursday that aim to end a decades-long water war, reduce identity theft and allow for a vote on a half-cent sales tax increase in Los Angeles County to fund transit projects.

Legislation that would overhaul the state's ailing workers' compensation system and another that would require employers to provide health insurance for workers were still pending late Thursday. The year's session ends today.

The water bills, which Gov. Gray Davis is expected to sign soon, would implement a historic 75-year agreement among four Southern California water agencies that divide the state's annual 4.4 million acre feet allotment from the Colorado River.

The plan subsidizes new conservation technology for farmers in the Imperial Valley, while freeing up new water for cities to grow. The agreement also sets up a restoration plan for the Salton Sea, a major Southern California stopping point for migratory birds.

The state Assembly approved a bill that would require companies to verify the identity of credit applicants if the applicant's credit report has a security alert.

That bill, by Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, requires the financial institution to call the phone number listed on the security alert to confirm the applicant's identity.

Victims of identity theft, or people who suspect their personal information is at risk, often request the alert, which is a ``red flag'' for creditors, said Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara.

The problem is that these security alerts are advisory only and the financial corporations aren't required to confirm the identity of the person applying for credit, she said.

Assemblyman John Campbell said the process required in the bill was too convoluted to work.

``If you come into a car dealership, and there's a security alert and you have to call the person at home, then you have to tell the person to go home and answer the call, then come back and buy the car,'' said Campbell, R-Irvine.

The bill was approved on a 57-15 vote, returning it to the Senate for approval of Assembly amendments.

Also approved was a bill authored by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, which authorizes a Los Angeles County vote on raising the sales tax a half-cent for six years to fund new transit projects. The senate voted 26-11.

Another bill approved, also authored by Murray, requires schools to maintain clean and operational restrooms or face the loss of state maintenance funds. The Senate gave the measure final approval Thursday, voting 23-10 to accept Assembly amendments to the bill.

Murray said school restrooms are often dirty, malfunctioning and lack soap, toilet paper and paper towels.

``We have standards for (restrooms for) truck stops, for prisons, for farm workers, but we do not have standards for kids in our schools,'' he said.

Under the bill, schools would have to keep restrooms operational, clean and stocked with toilet paper, soap and paper towels or functioning hand dryers.

The Assembly also approved a bill that would require teachers in the two state-run schools for the deaf be proficient in American Sign Language. The bill, by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, was approved 43-13, over the objections of the two lawmakers who represent the schools' districts.

The California Schools for the Deaf in Fremont and Riverside already have a difficult time attracting and retaining teachers, said Assemblymen John Dutra, D-Fremont, and John Benoit, R-Riverside.

``The teachers make 40 percent less than their counterparts'' at public schools in the same area and the new requirements would make it even more difficult, Dutra said.

Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, said her bill would let the school superintendents waive the requirements if there were no candidates for the job who met the requirement.

Davis signed two pieces of legislation Thursday:

--AB 768, by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, which approves land deals to make way for redevelopment of Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco.

--AB 547, by Assemblywoman Carol Liu, D-Pasadena, which allows the state to repay federal or state college loans for members of the National Guard, State Military Reserve and Naval Militia enrolled full-time at the University of California, California State University or a community college.

The bills sent to the governor's desk include:

--AB 327, by Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, allows cities to issue an extra $100 fine for the misuse of a disabled parking placard, which will be used to enhance disabled parking. Assembly voted 59-0.

--AB 1290, by Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, prohibits a person who is subject to a restraining order for stalking or elder abuse from owning, buying or possessing a gun while the restraining order is in effect. Assembly voted 67-1.

--SB 700, 704, 705, 708, 709, by Sen. Dean Florez, D-Fresno, ends agriculture industry's exemption from federal clean air laws, provides money for biomass plants to take more agriculture waste, phases out agricultural burning in San Joaquin Valley and gives law enforcement new authority to stop gross-polluting vehicles.

--SB 277, 317 and 654, by Sens. Denise Ducheny, D-Chula Vista, Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, and Mike Machado, D-Stockton, implements agreements between four Southern California water agencies to share 4.4 million acre feet of Colorado River water.

--SB 916, by Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, gives residents of seven Bay Area counties the ability to vote next March on a $1 bridge toll increase to fund transit and highway projects. Senate voted 25-13.

--SB 314, by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, authorizes a Los Angeles County vote on raising the sales tax a half cent for six years to fund new transit projects. Senate voted 26-11.

--SB 1016, by Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, bans cigarette retailers that fail to report online and mail order sales for tax purposes from doing business in the state. Senate voted 24-11.

--SB 582, by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, follows New York and Illinois in banning over-the-counter sale of ephedra. Senate voted 26-13.

--SB 71, by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, streamlines the process for allowing students to take sex education classes. Senate voted 24-14.

The bills sent to the Senate include:

--SB 933, by Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Garden Grove, allows citizens or legal residents who were victims of forced repatriation to Mexico between 1929 and 1941 to make a claim against the government if the action is brought before December 31, 2006. Assembly voted 52-1.