Description
Bruce Bronzan was a Democratic California State Assembly Member, 1983-1992, and who served the 31st Assembly District.Bronzan
was on the Assembly Health Committee for all ten years, serving as Chair the last four. As a leading legislator in health
care and an expert on the Medi-Cal program, he has carried legislation to create a health facilities financing system and
to increase funding for health care of the indigent.The Bruce Bronzan Papers consist of 9 cubic feet of textual records reflecting
Bronzan's legislative activities during his 10-year Assembly career. Record series include Bill Files, 1983-1992; Subject
Files, 1968-1990; Press Files, 1986-1988; and a subgroup consisting of Joint Legislative Audit Committee Subject Files, 1972-1989.
This collection is particularly useful to researchers interested in California's health care policies, especially as it concerns
the homeless and mentally ill during the 1980s.
Background
Bruce Bronzan was a Democratic California State Assembly Member who served the 31st Assembly District. During his time in
office, AD 31 encompassed much of eastern Fresno County, stretching from the Madera County border in the north, Tulare County
in the south, and running down the Central Valley roughly following State Highway 99 in the west. He was first elected to
the State Legislature in 1982. His popularity continued and he easily won victories in his district for the next five elections.
He ran unopposed in what became he last election in 1990. He left office in 1992 having represented his constituents from
the cities of Clovis, Fowler, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedly, Sanger, Selma, and the eastern part of the city of Fresno for
ten years. (Who's Who in the California Legislature).
Bruce Bronzan was born in Fresno, California on September 28, 1947 and went to Fresno schools including McLane High School
and California State University, Fresno, where he graduated with a B.S. in Political Science and a teaching credential in
1969. He received a Masters in Urban Studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1970 and was a Coro Foundation Fellow
that same year. In 1968, Bronzan wed Linda Barnes and eventually had two children, daughter Chloe and son Forest. He began
his political career as a member of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, serving for eight year from 1975-1982. He became
Vice Chair in 1980 and Board Chairman in 1981. Before he entered the political arena, Bronzan was the founder, director
and teacher at a small, alternative-education, secondary-level school in Fresno before becoming the director of an alcoholism
program at Fresno Community Hospital in 1973 (Oral History Interview, 1994).
Restrictions
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.