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Title: Gerald Felando Papers
Dates: 1979-1992
Collection number: LP439
Creator:
Gerald Felando, California Legislator
Collection Size:
21.5 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Gerald Felando, Republican, served in the California Legislature from 1979 to 1992. He was first elected to the California
State Assembly in 1978, representing the 52nd Assembly District through 1982. In 1983, until the end of his term in 1992,
Felando represented the 51st Assembly District. The Gerald Felando Papers consist of 21.5 cubic feet of textual records and
audio/visual materials and cover the years 1979-1992. The records are organized into four record series: Bill Files, 1979-1992;
Medi-Cal Files, 1987-1992; Subject Files, 1983-1992; Fish and Game Meeting Files, 1983-1987.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
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.
[Identification of item], Gerald Felando Papers, LP439:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Gerald Felando Papers following his final term in the State Legislature.
Gerald Felando, Republican, served in the California Legislature from 1979 to 1992. He was first elected to the California
State Assembly in 1978, representing the 52nd Assembly District through 1982. The district at that time consisted of all
of Compton, East Compton, and Paramount, nearly half of Florence-Graham and Willowbrook, and portions of Long Beach and Los
Angeles. In 1983, until the end of his term in 1992, Felando represented the 51st Assembly District, which consisted of all
of Alondra Park, Del Aire, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, West Athens, and West Compton, and portions of
Ladera Heights, Los Angeles, View Park-Windsor Hills, and Willowbrook.
Gerald Felando was born on December 29, 1934, in San Pedro, California. He studied at University of Southern California, School
of Dentistry, earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery and becoming a Forensic Odontologist. He is a member of the American and
California Dental Associations; Western Dental Society; Torrance Chamber of Commerce; and San Pedro Yugoslav-American Club.
Felando was also a veteran from the U.S. Coast Guard and a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
San Pedro supported one of the largest tuna fishing fleets in the world and the area's economy was dependent on the ocean
and its natural, unspoiled bounty of resources. Growing up in San Pedro, Felando was a member of one of the oldest and most
respected fishing families on the West Coast. Among his many contributions to South Bay citizens during his years in dental
practice before he became a State Legislator were: (1) the establishment of free dental clinics to treat children of needy
families, (2) financially supporting children's sports programs such as Little League and others; and (3) providing low cost
and frequently free dental care to law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and public safety employees who were not then
covered by dental insurance.
As a State Legislator, Felando's legislative interests were varied, but his main efforts focused on crime, aging and handicapped,
taxes, reducing government spending, and fisheries. In 1983, he was selected as "Legislator of the Year" by the Governor's
Committee for the Employment of the Handicapped. As Vice-Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Resources, Felando
addressed many important conservation issues, including management of State Parks, wildlife and fish conservation - both commercial
and recreational, tidelands management, forest management, and educational programs on the environment provided to California
school children.
During his term in the California Legislature, Felando served on the following committees according to the California Legislature
at Sacramento (Handbooks) and the California Blue Book:
- Standing Committees
- Aging, 1981-1982 (Chair, 1981-1982)
- Chair, 1981-1982
- Education, 1984
- Elections, Reapportionment, and Constitutional Amendments, 1983
- Governmental Organizations, 1981-1992 (Vice Chair, 1991-1992)
- Vice Chair, 1991-1992
- Health, 1979-1992 (Vice Chair, 1987-1988)
- Vice Chair, 1987-1988, 1991-1992
- Judiciary, 1985
- Labor and Employment, 1983
- Labor, Employment, and Consumer Affairs, 1979-1980
- Transportation, 1979-1980
- Utilities and Commerce, 1985-1987 (Vice Chair, 1985)
- Vice Chair, 1985
- Ways and Means, 1989-1992
- Select Committees
- Chemical Plant and Refinery Safety, 1990
- Child Abuse, 1983-1984
- Hazardous Materials, 1990
- International Trade Investment and Tourism, 1984
- Oil Spill Prevention and Response Preparedness, 1990 (Vice Chair, 1990)
- Vice Chair, 1990
- Olympic Oversight, 1984
- Pipeline, 1990
- Joint Committees
- Audit Committee, 1983
- Fisheries and Aquaculture, 1984-1992
- Legislature Audit, 1984-1992
- Organized Crime and Gang Violence, 1990
The Gerald Felando Papers consist of 21.5 cubic feet of textual records and audio/visual materials and cover the years 1979-1992.
The records are organized into four record series: Bill Files, 1979-1992; Medi-Cal Files, 1987-1992; Subject Files, 1983-1992;
Fish and Game Meeting Files, 1983-1987.
Bill Files are the bulk of the collection and are a strong source of information about legislation that Felando introduced.
This series demonstrates Felando's activism for reducing crime, assisting the elderly and handicapped, taxes, reducing government
spending, and fisheries.
Medi-Cal Files contain documents with information regarding Medicaid and Medicare policies, particularly for elderly people,
pregnant women, and single women. These files also contain information about dental coverage, drug formularies, and pharmaceutical
policies and reform.
Researchers looking to review topics about marine life, the fishing industry, and issues surrounding the Pacific Coast will
particularly benefit from the Subject Files, which contains information about regulations for the marine environment as well
as safety for people, fish, and marine mammals. As part of the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force, Felando promoted
fishing regulations and rights, seafood and aquaculture industry safety regulations, and worked with other fishery organizations
to resolve interstate disputes. Supplementing the Subject Files about the topics addressed relating to marine and fishing
are the Fish and Game Meeting Files, which consist of audio recordings of meetings conducted by the Department of Fish and
Game.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Felando, Gerald
California. Legislature. Assembly.
California. Department of Fish and Game