CA Gov. Discusses New Laws Enacted During Legislative Session in Weekly Radio Address

10/16/2009 -- Governor Schwarzenegger: Hello, this is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with another California Report.

This week, I signed a number of bills that are so important to the future of California, bills that will keep our streets safer, that will make our schools better and that will protect California homeowners during these difficult economic times.

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Let me tell you about just a few of the changes that are ahead.

This week we took a big step toward making California’s roads safer with two new laws that will prevent drunk drivers from ever even starting their cars.

AB 91 by Assemblymember Mike Feuer requires first-time offenders to install a device in their vehicles. Here is how it works: drivers blow into the device and if they are drunk, the car simply won’t start.

Isn’t that fantastic?

We are going to test this program in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare counties. And if it works there, we will take it statewide.

I also signed SB 598 by Senator Bob Huff of Diamond Bar.

This gives repeat DUI offenders the chance to apply for a restricted license but only if they install the ignition interlock device on their vehicles.

Both these bills will help save and protect innocent lives.

Public safety has always been my number one priority. And that is why I also signed another important bill that will help keep deadly ammunition out of the hands of criminals.

Assembly Bill 962 by Assemblyman Kevin de Leon requires gun dealers to keep records of all ammunition sales, including the fingerprint and identification of the buyer.

More than a dozen cities across California have enacted similar record-keeping laws and there is now clear evidence that this improves public safety.

I am also proud to tell you that this week I signed a bill that makes California’s schools eligible to compete for $4.35 billion in federal education funding.

I signed SB 19 by Senator Joe Simitian that allows the state to link student achievement data with teacher performance.

This is a critical step in improving our schools and it is also required in order to compete for funding in President Obama’s Race to the Top Program.

There is more work to be done to make our bid successful and I urge the legislature to pass the remaining education reforms I have outlined to make sure California is as competitive as possible.

I also want to tell you about some good news for homeowners.

I have approved several laws that will fight fraudulent mortgage practices that have arisen because of the national foreclosure crisis.

This legislation gives law enforcement the tools to investigate mortgage fraud and gives consumers more protections. It may even help some people keep their homes.

We know California has been hit especially hard by the housing crisis.
We will do everything we can to protect homeowners today and ensure that widespread foreclosures do not happen in the future.

Now, those are just a few of the changes we celebrated this week in California. To learn more, you can go to our state Web site at www.gov.ca.gov.

Thank you for watching and thank you for listening.

Source: California Governor