Inventory of the Bob Epple Papers
Processed by Katy Hogue
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2022
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the Bob Epple Papers
Collection number: LP503
California State Archives
Office of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, California
- Processed by:
- Katy Hogue
- Date Completed:
- May 2022
- Encoded by:
- Katy Hogue
© 2022 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Bob Epple Papers
Dates: 1981-1994
Collection number: LP503
Creator:
Epple, Bob
Collection Size:
7 cubic feet and 6 items
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: California legislator Robert David "Bob" Epple, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1988-1994. He served two terms from
1988 to 1992 as representative of the 63rd Assembly District including the cities of Artesia, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens,
Santa Fe Springs, most of Norwalk, and parts of Lakewood, southern and eastern Whittier, and Long Beach in southern Los Angeles
County. Following redistricting, Epple was elected to a third term representing the 56th Assembly District including the communities
of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, parts of Lakewood, Long Beach, Norwalk, and South Gate in Los
Angeles County. Epple championed legislative efforts relating to education, youth drug use and gang crime; seniors and mobile
homes; labor and retirement; and consumer protections. The Bob Epple Papers are organized into five series: (1) Bill Files,
(2) Committee Files, (3) Press Files, (4) Correspondence, and (5) Subject Files.
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], Bob Epple Papers, LP503:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State,
Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Bob Epple papers in a series of four transfers, beginning in 1990 (Accession Numbers:
90-218, 92-12-30, 94-12-08 and 95-10-04).
Biography
California legislator Robert David "Bob" Epple, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1988-1994. He served two terms from
1988 to 1992 as representative of the 63rd Assembly District including the cities of Artesia, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens,
Santa Fe Springs, most of Norwalk, and parts of Lakewood, southern and eastern Whittier, and Long Beach in southern Los Angeles
County. Following redistricting, Epple represented the 56th Assembly District including the communities of Artesia, Bellflower,
Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, parts of Lakewood, Long Beach, Norwalk, and South Gate in Los Angeles County.
Epple was born on November 18, 1948 in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Excelsior High School in Norwalk followed
by four years in the U.S. Army. Epple attended Cerritos College where he was active in student government and served on the
negotiating team for the school employees union. Epple met his first wife Cheryl at Cerritos College and they married on August
12, 1972. Their daughter Nicole was born in 1981. Epple graduated from Cerritos College in January 1974 with an associate
degree in economics. He attended California State University, Dominguez Hills and later went on to earn a law degree from
American College of Law in 1979. Before his election to the Assembly, Epple was an attorney and tax consultant for small businesses.
In 1980, Epple campaigned to represent the 33rd California Senate District, but lost the election to William P. "Bill" Campbell.
Epple was elected to the Cerritos College Board of Trustees in November 1981 and served until 1988. Epple also involved himself
with community issues as a member of the Frontier District Advisory Board of the Boy Scouts of America, the Su Casa Family
Crisis Center in Lakewood, the Downey YMCA, the Bellflower Lions Club, the Southeast Bar Association, the Bellflower Brethren
Church, and many other community organizations.
In 1988, Epple successfully challenged Republican Wayne R. Grisham for the 63rd California Assembly District. Epple championed
legislative efforts relating to education, youth drug use and gang crime; seniors and mobile homes; labor and retirement;
and consumer protections. For example, he brought legislation to shorten the approval period for school textbook purchases
and add more teachers to the state Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission.
In 1990, Epple defeated Republican Diane P. Boggs to win a second term. Epple won his second term on an anti-crime campaign
that focused on "drug free zone" legislation he sponsored that toughened penalties for people convicted of selling or using
drugs near a school. AB1179 (1993-1994) sought to increase prison penalties for those convicted of graffiti crimes and AB2428
(1993-1994) established a task force on juvenile crime and the response of state and local agencies with input from all relevant
youth services agencies.
After redistricting, Epple won a third term in California's 56th Assembly District against Republican Phillip D. Hawkins in
1992. Epple was chairman of the Assembly Public Safety Committee during his final term in office where he sought to strengthen
penalties for sex offenders and support the creation of women's shelters. Epple was also concerned the proper allocation of
state funds to the southern Los Angeles region, and advocated legislation that would enhance the prospects of local business
growth and further economic development in his district. Epple raised funds for community facilities, like the $2.1-million
Norwalk Sports Complex, and the $100,000 Downey community swimming pool. Epple believed that the centers would be cornerstone
of an overall community plan to fight gangs.
The area remained a battleground district causing Epple to lose his bid for reelection to Hawkins in November 1994. After
his government service, Epple resumed his practice as a tax attorney. He returned to serve on the Cerritos College Board of
Trustees from 2005-2010 and remained active in local community organizations. Bob Epple passed away at the age of 62 in Norwalk,
California on April 13, 2011 after a long battle with leukemia.
Scope and Content
The Bob Epple Papers consist of 7 cubic feet of records, plus audiovisual materials, including Assembly Bill Files, 1989-1994;
Press Files, 1982-1989; Committee Files, 1986-1990; Correspondence, 1989; and Subject Files, 1981-1992.
The bill files document his legislative activity during his three terms as a member of the California State Legislature. The
bill files often focus on youth crime prevention, voting rights for new citizens, protection of seniors and retirees, and
consumer protections. Of note are bills that sought to extend voting rights to new citizens. Epple worked to protect seniors
in long-term care facilities and sought improvements to the Teacher's and Public Employees Retirement Systems. Epple introduced
legislation to reduce youth crime by increasing penalties for drug and gang related crimes. He was also concerned with the
consumer protections through insurance regulation and fraud prevention. He brought truth in advertising legislation targeted
at lip synching in concerts. Epple's legislation also targeted transportation and parking fines. In addition, Epple sought
to indemnify 911 dispatchers from liability for offering first aid advice. These bill files are only a portion of those bills
authored by Epple in his six years in the legislature.
The committee files contain information on Epple's participation on the following Assembly Committees: Finance and Insurance;
Labor and Employment; Aging and Long Term Care; Public Employees and Retirement and Social Security; and Utilities and Commerce
in his first few years in office. Epple would later become a member of Assembly Judiciary, and Assembly Ways and Means Committees,
and these files reflect his early interest in their projects.
The press files contain expanded information on Epple's public relations strategy in the beginning of his legislative career.
There are files for press releases, speeches, articles, letter campaigns, and public service announcements, as well as newspaper
clippings from many local southeast Los Angeles County newspapers within Epple's district. The correspondence files contain
expanded information on Epple's collaboration with his colleagues in the California Legislature.
The subject files contain expanded information on Epple's legislative interests, background material on political topics,
and research on ethnic minorities, seniors, women and veterans. Several files related to disadvantaged youth, drug and alcohol
abuse, and education reflect Epple's work on legislation to address juvenile crime and promote Red Ribbon Week. Several files
contain newspaper clippings, newsletters and legislative history for Assemblyman Norm Waters. The Loma Prieta Earthquake files
preserve many of the notices from California's Office of Emergency Services and Governor Deukmejian issued in the days after
the disaster. These include information about recovery efforts, as well as discussions around future emergency planning and
disaster assistance legislation.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Related Material at the California State Archives
Assembly Public Safety Committee Records, 1959-2010
Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee Records, 1978-2005
Norman S. (Norm) Waters Papers, 1977-1990
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Epple, Bob
Juvenile delinquency - Prevention - California
California. Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Public Safety
Education
California. State Teachers Retirement System
Seniors
Mobile homes - California
California. Public Employees’ Retirement System
Loma Prieta Earthquake, Calif., 1989
LP503:1-85
Series 1
Bill Files
1989-1994
Physical Description: 85 file folders, 2 audiocassettes, 4 videocassettes
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.
Access
Access to audiovisual materials requires the production of use copies by Archives staff.
Scope and Content Note
Bill files created by Bob Epple may include all or some of the following items: bill analyses, amendments and resolutions,
author's statements, testimony, press releases, newspaper clippings, correspondence, roll calls, and records of votes.
Epple worked to increase penalties for gang and drug related crime and to create safe alternatives for youth. AB2645 (1989-1990)
sought to increase prison terms for drug offenses. AB3484 (1989-1990) worked to make gangs liable for the expense of a response
by emergency personnel. AB3486 (1989-1990) advocated for a longer sentence if the victim of an attempted crime was a police
officer. AB259 (1991-1992) sought tougher penalties for gang-related first-degree murder. Epple also authored the Assembly
Concurrent Resolution recognizing Red Ribbon Week in 1989, 1991-1994.
Epple worked to increase access to voting when he learned that there were nearly 10,000 new U.S. citizens in California who
were unable to vote in the 1988 presidential election. AB2145 (1989-1990) sought to allow new citizens to register to vote
on election day. AB2770 (1989-1990) permitted new U.S. citizens to register to vote up to seven days before a presidential
election. AB2590 (1991-1992) allowed people who become U.S. citizens after the regular voter registration deadline to register
to vote up to seven days before an election.
Epple was a strong advocate for seniors and mobile home residents. AB2651 (1989-1990), AB1194 (1991-1992), and AB1140 (1993-1994)
advocated for mobile home residents. AB2911 (1989-1990), AB1074 (1991-1992), AB1194 (1991-1992) and AB2512 (1993-1994) sought
to improve the California Teacher's Retirement System and teacher labor relations. AB1191 (1991-1992), AB3209 (1991-1992),
and AB1139 (1993-1994) sought to prevent elder abuse in long-term healthcare facilities.
Epple sought to improve labor relations and increase worker protections. AB4259 (1989-1990) sought to extend OSHA protections
against exposure to hazardous substances to county agricultural employees. AB210 (1991-1992), AB452 (1991-1992), AB1559 (1991-1992),
AB3376 (1991-1992), AB3823 (1991-1992), and AB1596 (1993-1994) contained updates to the Public Employees Retirement System.
Epple also worked to legislate for improvements in insurance practices and consumer protections. AB3834 (1989-1990) which
sought to increase the fines for insurance fraud. AB4144 (1989-1990) and AB4289 (1989-1990) established an Insurance Commission
and required it to create continuing education requirements for insurance agents and brokers. In the wake of the 1989 Loma
Prieta earthquake, AB9X (1989-1990) fought to protect victims of earthquake repair fraud.
One of Epple's bills that garnered the most press coverage came in the wake of Milli Vanilli's 1989 lip sync scandal. AB118
(1991-1992) required advertisements for public appearances and concerts to state whether the performance would be live, or
lip synched. In AB12 (1993-1994), Epple sought to eliminate liability for 911 dispatchers who gave first aid instructions
over the phone. In addition to four file folders, the bill file includes two audiotapes with relevant 911 calls and four VHS
videotapes with footage of the bill hearing with testimony from 911 callers. These bill files are only a portion of those
bills authored by Epple in his six years in the legislature.
Audiovisual materials have been removed to a cold storage vault for preservation purposes and a separation sheet has been
included within the file folders to alert researchers to their existence.
1989-1990: AB684-AB4289, ACR97-ACR152, AB9X1, SB616, 1989 Co-authorships
(LP503:1-21)
1991-1992: AB117-AB3823, ACR17-ACR87, AJR48 (LP503:22-60)
1993-1994: AB12-AB3577, ACR9-ACR129 (LP503:61-85)
LP503:86-95
Series 2
Committee Files
1982-1989,
bulk 1987-1989
Physical Description: 10 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by committee title.
Scope and Content Note
The Committee Files are from the beginning of Epple's legislative service. They reflect committees that Epple participated
in over his three terms in office. These files illustrate additional background information to topics considered important
to Epple, including seniors, business, insurance, labor and public employment. Several files contain legislative summaries
from the 1987-1988 legislative session that Epple procured when he took office, including the Assembly Judiciary Committee,
and the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee.
Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee, 1987-1989 (LP503:86)
Assembly Finance and Insurance Committee, 1987- bulk 1989 (LP503:87-88)
Assembly Judiciary Committee, 1987-1988 (LP503:89)
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, 1987-1989 (LP503:90)
Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee, 1982-1989 (LP503:91)
Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, 1987- 1989 (LP503:92-94)
Assembly Ways and Means Committee, 1989 (LP503:95)
LP503:96-116
Series 3
Press Files
1986-1990
Physical Description: 21 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged with press releases, speeches, and public service announcements first, followed by newspaper clipping folders arranged
alphabetically by newspaper title.
Scope and Content Note
The Press Files, along with a file of his staff meeting minutes, outline Epple's public relations strategy in the beginning
of his legislative career. There are files for press releases, speeches, articles, letter campaigns, and public service announcements,
as well as a brief Epple biography and profile on California's 63rd Assembly District. Newspaper clippings from many local
southeast Los Angeles County newspapers within Epple's district make up the bulk of the series. The last few files relate
more broadly to contemporary issues of concern with recommended press releases from the Speaker's Office of Majority Services.
Epple Biography and 63rd Assembly District Profile, 1989 (LP503:96)
Epple Team Meeting Minutes, 1989-1990 (LP503:97)
Press Releases, 1989 (LP503:98)
Speeches, 1988-1989 (LP503:99)
Articles, 1988-1990 (LP503:100)
Letter Campaigns, 1989 (LP503:101)
Public Service Announcements, 1989-1990 (LP503:102)
Cerritos Artesia Community Advocate, 1989 (LP503:103)
Downey Herald American, 1988-1990 (LP503:104)
Downey News Tribune, 1988-1989 (LP503:105)
Hawaiian Gardens News-Enterprise, 1988-1990 (LP503:106)
Long Beach Press-Telegram, 1989 (LP503:107)
Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, 1989 (LP503:108)
La Opinion (Spanish), 1988-1989 (LP503:109)
Los Angeles Times, 1989 (LP503:110)
Norwalk Herald American, Norwalk News Tribune, 1986-1989 (LP503:111)
Whittier Daily News, 1989-1991 (LP503:112)
California Newspaper Clippings, 1989-1991 (LP503:113)
Assemblyman Norm Waters Cable Show, Sept. 20, 1989 (LP503:114)
Speaker's Office of Majority Services Recommended Press Releases, 1989-1990
(LP503:115-116)
LP503:117-121
Series 4
Correspondence
1989
Physical Description: 5 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by agency or last name with State Agencies first, followed by California Assembly Members, California
Senators, and members of the U.S. Congress.
Scope and Content Note
The correspondence files are from Epple's first year in the California Assembly and highlight his work with his colleagues
in the legislature and with state agencies. State agency correspondence includes thank you letters and invitations relating
to Epple's upcoming legislation. One letter is from Gray Davis in his role as the California State Controller. Assembly members
and senators sent supporting information relating to their upcoming bills and requested Epple's support, as well as a few
of Epple's responses. Some correspondence was sent under the auspices of the chair of an Assembly or Senate Committee. There
are also two letters received from U.S. Congressmen.
State Agencies, 1989 (LP503:117)
Controller of the State of California, California Energy Commission, The State Bar of California, California State Teacher's
Retirement System, Youth and Adult Correctional Agency.
Assembly Members, A-F, 1989 (LP503:118)
Rusty Areias, Thomas H. Bates, Bruce Bronzan, Dennis Brown, John Burton, Charles M. Calderon, Robert J. Campbell, Peter R.
Chacon, Chris Chandler, Lloyd G. Connelly, Dominic L. Cortese, Jim Costa, Delaine Eastine, Dave Elder, Sam Farr, Gilbert W.
Ferguson, Richard E. Floyd, and Terry B. Friedman.
Assembly Members, H-W, 1989 (LP503:119)
Thomas M. Hannigan, Dan Hauser, Tom Hayden, Phillip Isenberg, Bill Jones, Ross Johnson, Patrick Johnston, Richard Katz, Lucy
Killea, Ted Lempert, Burt Margolin, Thomas McClintock, Richard L. Mountjoy, Pat Nolan, Jack O'Connell, Steve Peace, Mike Roos,
Eric Seastrand, Stan Statham, Sally Tanner, Art Torres, Curtis R. Tucker, Jr., John Van de Kamp, John Vasconcellos, Maxine
Waters, and Phillip D. Wyman.
State Senators, 1989 (LP503:120)
William Campbell, William A Craven, David Felderstein, John Garamendi, Bill Greene, Cecil Green, Leroy F. Greene, Barry Keene,
Bill Leonard, Tim Leslie, Kenneth L. Maddy, Milton Marks, Dan McCorquodale, Henry J. Mello, Jim Nielsen, Nicholas C. Petris,
Robert Presley, David Roberti, Don Rogers, Larry Stirling, Rose Ann Vuich, and Diane E. Watson.
U.S. Congress, 1989 (LP503:121)
William E. Dannemeyer and Esteban E. Torres.
LP503:122-152
Series 5
Subject Files
1981-1992,
bulk 1986-1990
Physical Description: 31 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
The Subject Files created by Bob Epple expand upon issues of concern in the first few years of his legislative service. These
include contemporary topics such as the 1988 presidential election, the 1990 federal census, and abortion. Several files related
to disadvantaged youth, drug and alcohol abuse, and education reflect Epple's work on legislation to address juvenile crime
and promote Red Ribbon Week. Another file on Epple's legislation relates to amnesty citizenship programs for immigrants and
contains letters from constituents. The subject files contain research Epple gathered on various ethnic groups, women, veterans,
and seniors. Several files contain newspaper clippings, newsletters and legislative history for Assemblyman Norm Waters who
may have been a mentor to Epple.
The most striking records are the Loma Prieta Earthquake files. The devastating October 17, 1989 earthquake galvanized the
state into action on a variety of fronts. Epple's files preserve many of the notices from California's Office of Emergency
Services and Governor Deukmejian issued in the days after the disaster. These include information about recovery efforts,
as well as discussions around future emergency planning and disaster assistance legislation. They also include information
on projects over the next several months in Epple's district to mitigate the effects of future natural disasters and avoid
construction scams that sought to take advantage of disaster victims.
1988 Presidential Election, 1988-1989 (LP503:122)
1990 Census, 1986-1990 (LP503:123)
AB 2032 (Margolin) (1989-1990), 1989 (LP503:124)
Abortion, 1988-1990 (LP503:125)
Alcohol Advertising, 1988-1989 (LP503:126)
Amnesty Citizenship Programs, 1989 (LP503:127)
Asian and Pacific Islanders, 1987-1989 (LP503:128)
Cal-SPAN, 1989-1990 (LP503:129)
Crime, 1987-1989 (LP503:130)
Disadvantaged Children, 1984, bulk 1988-1989 (LP503:131-132)
Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 1989 (LP503:133)
Education, 1986, bulk 1988-1989 (LP503:134-135)
Ethics Reform, 1989-1990 (LP503:136)
Hispanics, 1981, bulk 1989 (LP503:137)
Insurance, 1986-1989 (LP503:138)
Loma Prieta Earthquake, 1989 (LP503:139-140)
Mediterranean Fruit Fly Abatement with Malathion, 1989-1990 (LP503:141)
Minorities, 1989 (LP503:142)
Mobile homes, 1989 (LP503:143)
National Flood Insurance Program proposed Assembly Joint Resolution, 1992 (LP503:144)
Red Ribbon Week, 1989, includes photograph contact sheet with 29 small images of Epple at October 24, 1989 press conference.
(LP503:145)
Seniors, 1989 (LP503:146)
Veterans, 1989 (LP503:147)
Women's Groups, 1988-1989 (LP503:148)
Assemblyman Norm Waters, 1989-1990 (LP503:149-151)
Youth Alcohol Abuse, 1989 (LP503:152)