California Assembly Passes Info Age Bill of Rights


For Immediate Release!
----------------------
February 10, 1988

Contact: Bob Jacobson
(916) 445-4246
MCI: rjacobson

INFORMATION AGE "BILL OF RIGHTS" CLEARS IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE HURDLE


SACRAMENTO -- Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 36 (ACA
36), introduced in the California Legislature by Assemblywoman
Gwen Moore (D-L.A.), cleared an important legislative hurdle
today when it was passed by the Assembly Elections,
Reapportionment, and Constitutional Amendments Committee on a
bipartisan 6-0 vote.

Moore, who chairs the Utilities and Commerce Committee (which
passed ACA 36 on a 10-vote last year), credited ACA 36's passage
to lobbying by grassroots "telecomputerists" who sent in dozens
of letters; and to a thorough evaluation of the bill's merits
by her colleagues on the committee. Voting in favor of the
bill were committee chairman Peter Chacon (D-San Diego), vice
chairman Richard Mountjoy (R-Arcadia), and members Tom Bane
(D-San Fernando Valley), Dennis Brown (R-Long Beach), Phil
Isenberg (D-Sacramento), and John Lewis (R-Orange County).

"This vote clears the way for a favorable vote on ACA 36 by the
full Assembly, later this month," said Moore, "and ensures that
partisan squabbling will not get in the way of its principled
consideration by the entire house. I appreciate the way the
members of the Elections Committee could deal with this complex
issue in a fair and evenhanded manner, one that recognizes just
how much is at stake for California's future 'information
society.'"

ACA 36 would amend the state constitution to include electronic
communications within the freedom-of-speech and privacy
protections already accorded to more conventional forms of
speech and publishing. According to Moore, it would pave the
way for the development of a vital and diverse information
industry in California by granting electronic communicators
rights on a par accorded them in federal statutes.

Should ACA 36 receive the necessary 2/3 approval on the
Assembly floor, and be approved by the Senate, it will appear
on the November general election ballot for ratification by the
voters.

"ACA 36 will put California in the forefront of states seeking
through the new media, to encourage economic growth and civic
vigor," smiled Moore. "I'm glad it's finally on its way."

* * *


PRESS RELEASE FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN GWEN MOORE
-------------------------------------------
February 27, 1988

ACA 36, "INFORMATION AGE BILL OF RIGHTS," PASSES ASSEMBLY 57-4


SACRAMENTO -- With unexpected ease, Assembly Constitutional
Amendment No. 36, the so-called "Information Age Bill of
Rights," passed the California State Assembly on Thursday,
February 25, by a vote of 57-4. in the Assembly.) The vote
was apparently unaffected by the ongoing debate on the
confirmation of Rep. Dan Lundgren, nominated by Governor
Deukmejian as state treasurer.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where it will be heard by
policy committees before the Senate votes to approve its
placement on the November general election ballot.

Despite unanimous votes of approval in two Assembly policy
committees, some concerns were raised on the floor. Assemblyman
Phil Wyman (R-Taft) questioned the necessity of the bill in the
first place. Assemblymen Gil Ferguson (R-Orange Co.) and Steve
Peace (D-Chula Vista) hopped on the 976 "dial-a-porn"
bandwagon, suggesting that those who offer the controversial
subjects should not enjoy freedom-of-speech protections. The
bill's author, Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-L.A.), reminded
Ferguson and Peace that ACA 36 does not give license for abuses
of the constitutional right to communicate and reminded Peace
that he had voted for the bill in the Utilities and Commerce
Committee last year.

Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-San Fernando Valley) wondered whether
the bill, if passed, would prevent the Assembly from monitoring
the use of new computer system, to ensure that the systems are
not used for banned campaign purposes. Moore responded that
the ACA, which would prohibit unwarranted searches of personal
data stored in computers, would not prevent an organization
like the Assembly from retaining access to its own systems
according to its own rules.

"I'm delighted that the Assembly agrees with the purposes of
ACA 36, to provide an hospitable environment for the new
information industries," said Moore. "With the support of the
Senate and the voters, we can make California the first state
to declare itself ready for the 'Infommation Age.'"

The bill now passes to a Senate policy committee for a hearing.
Which committee hears the bill will be determined by the Senate
Rules Committee, though it is likely it will be sent to either
the Energy & Public Utilities Committee (Herschel Rosenthal,
D-L.A., chair) or the Judiciary Committee (Senator Bill
Lockyer, D-San Leandro, chair). The bill must be approved by a
full vote of the Senate no later than June 30 to appear on the
November ballot.