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Inventory of the Marian Bergeson Papers
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Table of contents What's This?

Series Descriptions

See below for LP Numbers.

Series 1 Bill Files 1979-1994

Physical Description: 398 file folders

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session and then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files created by Marian Bergeson may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, testimony, press releases, editorials and newspaper clippings, correspondence, committee statements, and other information.
Education issues are a prominent topic in Bergeson's bill files. She worked toward reforming California's credential program from the mid-1980s to early-1990s. SB868 (Chapter 989, Statutes of 1986) increased the Commission on Teacher Credentialing's (CTC) flexibility with implementing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), while allowing cooperating school districts to develop state basic skills proficiency tests. AB3600 (1983-1984) attempted to establish a 2-tier credentialing system but failed in the Assembly Committee on Education, whereupon she quit the committee. As a Senator, Bergeson introduced SB1605 (1985-1986) to completely revise the CTC and promote professional development. The bill died in the Assembly. The bill would later be resurrected as SB148 (Chapter 1355, Statutes of 1988), which redesigned teacher credentialing. The bill added subject matter tests for prospective teachers. It also established a 2-tier credentialing program and the California New Teacher Program (CNTP). SB1097, 1991-1992, was a vetoed bill to extend the CNTP; SB1422 (Chapter 1245, Statutes of 1992) successfully extended the program. SB654 (Chapter 809, Statutes of 1993) created both a combined physical science and a social science credential. SB22 (Chapter 42, Statutes of 1988) added an $800 million school bond to the November 1988 ballot.
Bergeson sought to shield local governments from a certain type of lawsuit. Following several court cases, governments became subject to lawsuits following injury or death while on undeveloped public land. SB433, 1985-1986, was the first attempt. SB1694, 1985-1986, was the second attempt. SB23 (Chapter 1209, Statutes of 1987) provided the sought after immunity. Reflecting her concern toward Orange County's fiscal stability, SB1147 (Chapter 1178, Statutes of 1987) allowed the county to convert special districts into county service districts, which increased the county's Gann Limit and property tax limit.
Additionally, California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) workload concerned Bergeson. SB1902 (1985-1986) was an unsuccessful attempt to allow Caltrans to outsource engineering work to private companies, a move strongly opposed by Caltrans engineers. SB516 (1987-1988) was a failed attempt. The successful bill, SB1219 (Chapter 313, Statutes of 1991) approved Caltrans using private engineers. Another successful bill, SB1209 (Chapter 433, Statutes of 1993), further permitted outside engineers to work on Caltrans projects.
An important change to adoptions occurred following several multi-year court cases. Responding to the court decisions, Bergeson introduced SB1148 (Chapter 1353, Statutes of 1992) to restructure independent adoption rules. The bill reduced the time birth parents had to decide to finalize or end the adoption. A clean-up bill, SB792 (Chapter 758, Statutes of 1993) was introduced the next session.
Bergeson responded to the problem of violence against women and children with three bills. SB1343, 1991-1992, increased domestic violence sentences and was signed by Governor Pete Wilson but the Assembly double joined the bill with the vetoed SB25 (Lockyer). In response, during the 1993-1994 session, she reintroduced the bill as SB739 (Chapter 873, Statutes of 1994). SB26X (Chapter 14X, Statutes of 1993-1994) provided "one strike" for rape convictions.
1979-1980: AB172-AB3356, AJR21-AJR73, HR19 (23ff) LP223:23-45.
1981-1982: AB57-AB3520, ACA17-ACA34, ACR69-ACR132, AJR10 (26ff) LP223:46-71.
1983-1984: AB4-AB3728, ACA31-ACA32, ACR13-ACR120, AJR21-AJR66, Preprint AB14 (30ff) LP398:1-30.
1985-1986: SB118-SB2538, SCR48-SCR74, SJR41 (62ff) LP398:31-94.
1987-1988: SB22-SB2894, SCR88 (73ff) LP398:95-168.
1989-1990: SB1-SB2877, SCA19, SJR55 (62ff) LP398:169-230.
1991-1992: SB11-SB2039, SCR72-SCR90, SJR4-SJR39, SB9X (62ff) LP398:231-292.
1993-1994: SB11-SB2112, SCR22, SJR11-SJR49, SB26X-SB40X (57ff) LP398:293-349.