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Inventory of the Tom Bane Papers
LP449, LP220:134-142  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administrative Information
  • Biography
  • State Assembly, 1959-1964, 1975-1992
  • Scope and Content
  • Accruals
  • Oral History
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Tom Bane Papers
    Dates: 1975-1984
    Collection number: LP449, LP220:134-142
    Creator: Tom Bane, California Legislator
    Collection Size: 5 cubic feet
    Repository: California State Archives
    Sacramento, California
    Abstract: The Tom Bane Papers consist of 5 cubic feet of textual records that cover the years 1975-1984. The records are organized into one record series: Bill Files, 1975-1984.
    Physical location: California State Archives
    Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

    Administrative Information

    Access

    While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

    Publication Rights

    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.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Tom Bane Papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

    Acquisition and Custodial History

    The California State Archives acquired the Tom Bane Papers following his final term in the State Legislature.

    Biography

    Tom Bane, a Democrat, was first elected to the Assembly in 1958 and served for six years. Thomas J. (Tom) Bane was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 28, 1913. During his early childhood, Bane attended numerous elementary schools throughout California because the family moved frequently while his father, Howard Kelly Bane, was a state highway inspector. Eventually the family returned to Los Angeles and then settled in Burbank. Bane graduated from Burbank High School in 1932.
    After completing high school, Bane attended Los Angeles City College. He then obtained a position in the mail department at Bullocks-Wilshire department store, continuing his education by attending classes at night. He met his first wife, Claire Louise Brown, while working at Bullocks-Wilshire. They married in 1939, made their home in Burbank, and had a son, Bruce William Bane. In 1980, Bane married Marlene L. Rothstein, and had three children. The two were known as a power couple, and were often engaged in political consulting and nonprofit projects. During the late 1980s--while Bane operated a national lupus foundation and his wife was chairwoman of the state lupus appropriations board--a coalition of lupus support groups accused Marlene Bane of funneling about $800,000 in state money to a longtime doctor who also was a big contributor to Bane's election campaigns. Those charges were eventually dropped after an investigation by the state Attorney General's Office.
    Bane was first elected to the California State Assembly as a representative for the Forty-second Assembly District in 1958, a position he served in until 1964. In 1964 he also participated as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and served on the convention's Credentials Committee. After making an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1964, Bane worked in the savings and loan industry for the next decade.
    In 1974, after 10 years in business, Bane ran again for the Assembly and was elected to represent part of the San Fernando Valley in the 40th Assembly District, which included all of Van Nuys and much of North Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Panorama City, Northridge, Encino, Reseda, Tarzana, Canoga Park, and Woodland Hills. Unaffected by term limits, Bane remained an Assemblyman until his retirement in 1992.
    On April 11, 1999, Bane died in Tarzana, Los Angeles County, from a respiratory illness. He is buried at Eden Memorial Park, Mission Hills, Los Angeles County, California.
    In recognition of his concern for people, Bane received many awards. He was presented with the "Someone Who Cared" Award by KTTV, Channel 11, for his many years of leadership in the National Lupus Foundation, City of Hope, Red Cross, March of Dimes, Veterans Service Center, Community Chest, Junior Baseball, P.T.A., Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and special contributions to city, county, and state government. He was also the recipient of the Geri Award "For Outstanding and Unselfish Services in Behalf of Senior Citizens" and was actively involved in the Foundation for the Junior Blind.
    From 1979 to 1985 Bane was Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly.
    During his term in the California Legislature, Bane served on the following committees according to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks) and the California Blue Book:

    State Assembly, 1959-1964, 1975-1992

    • Standing Committees
    • Banking, Finance, and Bonded Indebtedness, 1991-1992
    • Business and Professions, 1981-1982
    • *Vice Chair, 1981-1982
    • Constitutional Amendments, 1959-1962
    • Criminal Procedure, 1959-1960
    • Elections and Reapportionment, 1959-1964
    • Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments, 1975, 1987-1990
    • Energy and Diminishing Materials, 1975
    • Finance and Insurance, 1963-1964, 1983-1990
    • Finance, Insurance, and Commerce, 1975-1982
    • Governmental Organization, 1979-1985
    • Housing and Community Development, 1987-1990
    • Insurance, 1991-1992
    • Intergovernmental Relations, 1985-1986
    • Interstate Cooperation, 1963-1964
    • Legislative Representation, 1960, 1964
    • *Chair, 1964
    • Public Employees and Retirement, 1976
    • Rules, 1961-1964, 1983-1992
    • *Chair, 1963-1964, 1987-1992
    • Transportation, 1977-1978
    • Transportation and Commerce, 1959-1962
    • Utilities and Energy, 1981-1982
    • Ways and Means, 1961-1964
    • Subcommittees
    • Finance and Insurance on Unemployment-Disability Insurance, 1985-1986
    • Financial Institutions, 1979-1982
    • General Services Contracting Policies, 1979-1980
    • *Chair, 1979-1980
    • Interstate Banking, 1983-1984
    • *Chair, 1983-1984
    • Investment Practices, 1983-1984
    • Public Pension Fund Investments, 1985-1986
    • Savings and Loan Law and Regulations, 1989-1990
    • Unemployment-Disability Insurance, 1979, 1983-1984
    • Workers' Compensation, 1978
    • Select Committees
    • Genetic Disease, 1977-1990
    • *Chair, 1977-1990
    • Office of the State Board of Equalization, 1991-1992
    • Joint Committees
    • Community Development and Housing Needs, 1975-1976
    • Fire, Police, Emergency, and Disaster Services, 1987-1992
    • Legislative Building Space Needs, 1964
    • Legislative Organization, 1961-1964
    • *Chair, 1964
    • National Conference of State Legislative Leaders, 1987-1990
    • Public Pension Fund Investments, 1987-1990
    • Rules, 1983-1992
    • Chair, 1987-1992

    Scope and Content

    The Tom Bane Papers consist of 5 cubic feet of textual records that cover the years 1975-1984. The records are organized into one record series: Bill Files, 1975-1984.
    The bill files document his legislative activity during his second stint as a member of the California State Assembly. The bills introduced by Tom Bane include a wide array of subjects, including legislation regarding medical malpractice, coastal development permits, veterans compensation, unemployment insurance and social security benefits, and ethnic groups.

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected.

    Oral History

    Tom Bane, Oral History Interview, Conducted 1994 and 1995 by Steven L. Isoardi, UCLA Oral History Program, for the California State Archives State Government Oral History Program.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    Bane, Tom
    Unemployment insurance
    Environmental protection