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
Sacramento, California
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)