Floyd (Richard) Papers, 1980-2000

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Summary

Title:: Guide to the Richard Floyd Papers
Dates:: 1980-2000
Creators:: Richard, Floyd
Abstract:: The Richard Floyd Papers consist of 31 cubic feet of textual records and audio visual materials and cover the years 1979 to 2000.
Extent:: 31 cubic feet
Language:: Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:: [Identification of item], Richard Floyd Papers, LP446:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Richard Floyd Papers consist of 31 cubic feet of textual records and audio visual materials and cover the years 1979 to 2000. The records are organized into the following record series: Bill Records, 1981-1982; Bill Files, 1981-1992, 1997-2000; Subject Files, 1979-1987; Sports and Entertainment Subcommittee Hearing Files, 1985-1986; Sports and Entertainment Subcommittee Subject Files, 1982-1986; Prison Construction and Operations Joint Committee Hearing Files, 1985-1986; and Prison Construction and Operations Joint Committee Subject Files, 1979-1988. The Bill Records provide a summary of the bills introduced by Floyd during the 1981-1982 legislative session. The Bill Files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature and are the bulk of the collection. Floyd was known for introducing many bills with his primary concerns as employment development, education, labor relations, and fiscal affairs. The Prison Construction and Operations Joint Committee Subject Files also make up a large portion of the collection and provide insight into Floyd's interests of public safety and job creation.

Richard Floyd fought vigorously for Sacramento's mandatory motorcycle helmet law throughout his tenure as a member of the California Assembly. Floyd introduced various versions of a motorcycle helmet law beginning in his first session as an assemblyman. Floyd endured intimidation from a cornucopia of motorcycle groups for his efforts but rather than cowering down Floyd relished in the opposition and continued to fight for the cause. A version of the bill passed in 1988 but did not make it passed Governor Deukmejian's desk. Floyd prevailed in 1991 when Governor Pete Wilson signed AB7 into law. Richard Floyd introduced Assembly Bill 650, which created the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park, which was signed into law by Governor Deukmejian in September 1983 and continued to show support for veterans by providing an additional State Veterans Home in Southern California to meet the needs of the three million veterans living in California. Floyd served on the Prison Construction and Operations Joint Committee authoring laws to put hundreds of thousands of jail inmates to work cleaning up parks and highways. Floyd advocated for more jobs, greater job security, and a healthier work environment for California's working men and women. When Cal-OSHA was abolished through a loss of funding in the budget, Floyd led the fight to restore the funds, and he continued to take a leading role in the campaign to keep the program by placing Cal-OSHA on the ballot, where it was approved by voters.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Floyd, a Democrat, served California as a State Assembly Member from 1980 through 1992, and again from 1996 through 2000. Beginning in 1980, Floyd represented the 53rd Assembly District, sprawling over southern Los Angeles skipping around the city of Torrence and encompassing the cities of Carson, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lawndale and small portions of the cities of Los Angeles and Redondo Beach. He maintained his seat until 1992 when the reapportioning of district lines moved Floyd to the 55th district where his reelection efforts failed. After a four year hiatus, Floyd found himself representing the 55th Assembly District, which sits north of the Los Angeles harbor area and includes the city of Carson, parts of Compton, Los Angeles and Long Beach. The district also contained the communities of Harbor City, West Carson, Wilmington, and part of West Compton. Floyd represented the district until 2000 when he reached his term limit.

Richard Floyd was born February 3, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in Southern California. He served in the United States Army and was a decorated combat veteran of the Korean Conflict. After serving in the military Floyd worked as a salesman before landing a job as an aide to Senator Ralph Dills from 1969 until 1980, leaving after winning his Assembly seat. Floyd quickly gained recognition as a senator and received recognition as Freshman Legislator of the Year and also Legislator of the Year in his first term by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Floyd became known for his loud, abrasive, crude and even profane style of politicking. The chain smoking Floyd was often outspoken of his beliefs and was once even threatened of censure after calling Governor Deukmejian, "the most hardheaded s.o.b.," in the State Capital after the Governor vetoed Floyd's motorcycle helmet law in 1988. In 1991 Governor Pete Wilson signed a version of Floyd's motorcycle helmet bill into law proving one of his greatest political accomplishments alongside the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park.

California State Assembly, 1981-1992, 1997-2000

Standing Committees

Constitutional Amendments, 1985-1986

Criminal Justice, 1981-1982

Economic Development and Planning 1981-1982

Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, 1989-1990

Finance and Insurance, 1989-1990

Governmental Organization 1983-1992, 1997-2000

*Chair, 1987-1990

Human Services, 1983-1984

Insurance, 1991-1992

Judiciary, 1991-1992

Labor and Employment, 1981-1988, 1991-1992

*Chair, 1983-1986

Labor and Government, 1997-1998

*Chair, 1997-1998

Public Employees and Retirement, 1985-1986

Revenue and Taxation, 1985-1986

Rules, 1981-1982

Utilities and Commerce, 1991-1992

Water, Parks, and Wildlife, 1981-1982

Subcommittees

Finance and Insurance – Subcommittee on Health and Workers' Insurance, 1989-1990

Governmental Organization – Subcommittee on Alcohol Regulations, 1989-1990

*Chair, 1989-1990

Governmental Organization – Subcommittee on Arts and Athletics, 1989-1990

Governmental Organization – Subcommittee on Horse Breeding and Ownership 1989-1990

Labor and Employment – Subcommittee on Agricultural Labor Relations, 1981-1982

Labor and Employment – Subcommittee on Amusement Ride Safety, 1981-1984

*Chair, 1983-1984

Labor and Employment – Subcommittee on Child Labor, 1981-1982

*Chair, 1981-1982

Labor and Employment – Subcommittee on Employee Assistance Programs and Drug and Alcohol Abuse at the Workplace, 1985-1986

Labor and Employment – Subcommittee on Safety in the Workplace 1987-1988

*Chair, 1987-1988

Select Committees

Construction Issues, 1989-1990

Corridors of Economic Significance, 1997-1998

Fair Employment Practices, 1981-1982

Hazardous Materials, Pipeline, Chemical Plant and Refinery Safety, 1989-1990

Homeless Veterans, 1999-2000

*Chair, 1999-2000

To Divide California – 1991-1992

Unlicensed Contractors – 1987-1988

Utility Performance, Rates and Regulation, 1983-1984

*Chair, 1983-1984

Veteran's Affairs, 1981-1984, 1997-1998

*Chair, 1981-1984, 1997-1998

Joint Committees

Audit Committee

Fairs Allocation and Classification, 1983-1992

Prison, Legislative, 1983-1984

Prison Construction and Operations, 1985-1992

Boards, Commissions, Etc

Commission for Economic Development, 1983-1984

State Job Training Coordinating Council, 1983-1988

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission, 1983-1988

Commission for Economic Development, 1987-1988

Special Committees

Special Committee on Los Angeles Crisis, 1991-1992

Accruals:

No further accruals are expected.

Physical location:

California State Archives

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Public safety
Education - California
Motorcycle helmets

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:: Machine-readable finding aid created by Sara Roberson. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: April 2014.

Access and use

Restrictions:: While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
Terms of access:: 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], Richard Floyd Papers, LP446:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:: California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, CA 95814, US