Physical Description: 284 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 Tom Bates may include bill analyses, statements, amendments, correspondence, press releases, newspaper
clippings, and background information. Some of Bates's notable accomplishments in the legislature include his long struggle
to pass a motor voter bill. Bates made several attempts to make voter registration available at the Department of Motor Vehicles
but was continuously vetoed by Governor Deukmejian (AB1787, 1985; AB899, 1987; AB864, 1989). A bill was eventually passed
(AB979, 1992) shortly before the federal Motor Voter Act of 1993. During his tenure as an assemblyman, Bates was able to add
age, disability, and sexual orientation to those groups granted additional remedies against violence under the Ralph Civil
Rights Act (AB848, 1984). Bates also passed legislation requiring that security bars have an emergency release latch after
several people perished because they were trapped in their homes during the 1991 Oakland fire (AB3026, 1995). Bates was also
responsible for the legalization of the nation's first brewpubs (AB3610, 1981). His legislation was mimicked across the nation
and brewpubs are now a sizeable industry in the United States. Bates created the Eastshore State Park turning an undeveloped
strip of coastline in the East Bay into a park for hiking, biking, and other day-activities (AB809, 1989; AB754, 1991). Bates,
concerned for the environment, also passed legislation requiring the California Department of Transportation to pursue and
invest more in bicycle facilities (AB3933, 1983).
1977-1978: AB515-AB3753, ACR18-160 (LP394:1-36)
1979-1980: AB81-AB3250, ACR113 (LP394:37-73)
1981-1982: AB470-AB3768, ACR34 (LP394:74-99)
1983-1984: AB3-AB3934, ACR54-ACR151 (LP394:100-141)
1985-1986: AB459-AB4411, ACA16, ACR17-ACR118, AJR80 (LP394:142-176)
1987-1988: AB79-AB4418, ACA37-ACA61, ACR89-ACR161 (LP394:177-200)
1989-1990: AB478-AB4319, ACR59-ACR80, AB26X-AB37X (LP394:201-234)
1991-1992: AB293-AB3800, ACA30, ACR14-ACR45, AJR19, AB25X-AB59X (LP394:235-265)
1993-1994: AB535-AB3076, ACR146, AB90X-AB94X (LP394:266-272)
1995-1996: AB4-AB3436, AB34XX (LP394:273-284)