Inventory of the Joseph Montoya Papers

Processed by Ron Cascella

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/

Inventory of the Joseph Montoya Papers

Collection number: LP410

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Ron Cascella
Date Completed:: May 2010
Encoded by:: Stephanie Geller

Descriptive Summary

Title: Joseph Montoya Papers

Dates: 1972-1990

Collection number: LP410

Creator: Joseph Montoya, California Legislator

Collection Size: 13 cubic feet of textual records

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: Joseph B. Montoya, Democrat, was a California Assembly Member from 1972 to 1978 and a Senator from 1979 to 1990. The Joseph B. Montoya Papers consist of 12.75 cubic feet of textual records, 39 audiocassette tapes, and 1 audio record reflecting Montoya’s activities during his eighteen-year Assembly and Senate career. The records are organized with his files first, followed by files related to the committees he served on.

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], Joseph B. Montoya Papers, LP410:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

The Joseph B. Montoya Papers were acquired by the California State Archives in a series of six record transfers beginning in 1975 (Accession Numbers: 75-140, 76-129, 78-155, 82-97, 90-46, 90-48).

Biography

Joseph B. Montoya, Democrat, was a California Assembly Member from 1972 to 1978 and a Senator from 1979 to 1990. Montoya was first elected to public office at the age of 28. He served on the La Puente City Council from 1968-1972, was Vice-Mayor 1969-1970, and Mayor 1971-1972. Montoya was elected to the California Legislature in 1972 to represent the 60th Assembly District that included the cities of Bassett, Baldwin Park, City of Industry, El Monte, La Puente, North Whittier, Rosemead, South El Monte, South San Gabriel, West Covina, and Valinda. Montoya then defeated Senate incumbent Alfred Song to represent the 26th Senate District in 1979. The 26th district consisted of the Los Angeles County communities of Alhambra, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Irwindale, La Puente, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, and San Gabriel. Montoya’s political career ended in 1990 when he was convicted on felony charges of racketeering, extortion, and money laundering. Montoya was one of five legislators caught by the FBI’s vote-selling sting. He was sentenced to serve six and a half years as well as pay restitution.

Joseph B. Montoya was born April 30, 1939 in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He moved to La Puente, California with his parents at the age of 15. After graduating La Puente High School in 1957, he spent four years in the US Air Force. After being honorably discharged in 1961, Montoya graduated from Mount San Antonio College in 1964 and then from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1966 earning a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Psychology. After college, he became a Social Services Counselor for the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services serving as liaison official to the Department of Human Resources and Development. Montoya is married to Pilar Gonzalez and the couple has four children: Cristina, Pilar, John III, and Marisa.

As a state legislator, Montoya’s major interests were election reform, welfare, anti-abortion legislation, and human services.

According to the California Blue Book, Assembly Final History, and Senate Final History Montoya served on the following committees:

State Assembly, 1972-1978

Standing Committees
Agriculture, 1973-1976
Constitutional Amendments, 1973-1974
Education, 1973-1978
Rules, 1975-1978
Transportation, 1977-1978
Select Committees
Implementation of Career Education, 1973-1976
*Chair, 1973-1976
Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition, 1973-1974
Service Station Franchising and Petroleum Products Practices, 1973-1974
Employment Development-Rehabilitation Demonstration Task Force, 1973-1974
Veterans Affairs, 1977-1978
Permanent Subcommittees
Postsecondary Education, 1975-1978
Transit, 1977-1978
Ad Hoc Subcommittees
Adult Vocational Education 1977-1978
*Chair, 1977-1978

State Senate, 1979-1990

Standing Committees
Education, 1979-1980
*Vice-Chair, 1979-1980
Business and Professions, 1979-1990
*Chair, 1983-1990
Industrial Relations, 1979-1990
Transportation, 1979-1980
Energy and Public Utilities, 1981-1990
*Chair, 1981-1982
Elections and Reapportionment, 1981-1984
Revenue and Taxation, 1981-1984
Agriculture and Water Resources, 1983-1986
Health and Human Services, 1983-1990
Banking and Commerce, 1985-1990
Insurance, Claims and Corporations, 1987-1990
Subcommittees
Business and Professions – Garment Manufacturing, 1981-1990
*Chair, 1981-1990
Business and Professions – Cable Television, 1985-1990
*Chair, 1985-1990
Business and Professions – Sports, 1987-1990
*Chair, 1985-1990
Energy and Public Utilities – Cable Television, 1981-1984
*Chair, 1981-1984
Select Committees
Occupational Preparation and Placement, 1979-1980
*Chair, 1979-1980
Farm Labor Problems, 1979-1980
Housing and Urban Affairs, 1979-1982
Licensed and Designated Sports, 1983-1986
*Chair, 1983-1986
Anatomical Transplants, 1983-1984
Governmental Efficiency, 1983-1984
•Subcommittee on 1984 Olympics, 1983-1984
Small Business Enterprises, 1983-1990
*Vice-Chair, 1987-1990
Pacific Rim, 1987-1990
*Chair, 1987-1990
Commissions
Educational Management and Evaluation, 1979-1980
Boards and Councils
Social Welfare Board, 1973-1974
Social Benefits and Services Advisory Board, 1975-1976
Advisory Council on Vocational Education and Technical Training, 1975-1980
Joint Committees
Rules, 1975-1978; 1983-1990
Ad Hoc Educational Sunset Review, 1979-1984
Study on Workers’ Compensation-Resolution Chapter 127, Statutes of 1983, 1983
Review for the Master Plan of Higher Education-Chapter 1507, 1984
Legislative Budget Committee-Government Code Sections 9140, 9141, 1987-1988

Biography/Organization History

Montoya also served as the Majority Whip in the Assembly from 1973-1978.

Scope and Content

The Joseph B. Montoya Papers consist of 12.75 cubic feet of textual records, 39 audiocassette tapes, and 1 audio record reflecting Montoya’s activities during his eighteen-year Assembly and Senate career. The records are organized with his files first, followed by files related to the committees he served on. His records are organized into two series: Bill Files, 1972-1990; and Subject Files, 1973-1981. The committee records are organized into six subgroups: Joint Committee on Vocational Education, 1974-1975; Assembly Select Committee on Implementation of Career Education, 1976; Assembly Sub Committee on Adult and Vocational Education, 1977; Senate Select Committee on Farm Labor Problems, 1979; Senate Select Committee on Licensed and Designated Sports, 1983-1987; and Senate Committee on Business and Professions, 1983-1988.

The Bill Files document Montoya’s legislative activity during his time as a member of the California State Assembly and Senate. While the bills introduced by Joseph Montoya cover a wide array of subjects, he did have a few subjects that were his primary focus. Montoya was a strong pro-life Democrat and authored Senate Bill 11 in 1987-1988 to force minors to get either parental consent or a court order before a doctor could perform an abortion. Ultimately SB 11 wasn’t signed into law, but it did have over forty coauthors which demonstrated that it had fairly broad support. A majority of his legislation came from his work on legislative committees. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Licensed and Designated Sports, Montoya authored numerous bills such as SB1324 and SB1645 in the 1983-1984 session in an attempt to strengthen the regulation related to the licensing of boxers and wrestlers. He also introduced numerous bills to improve vocational education in California, such as SB 167 (became law) and SB708 (vetoed), 1985-1986.

Montoya also served on the Chicano Caucus and was concerned with the wide spectrum of issues that affect the Chicano community. Researchers interested in Chicano issues should review the following files in the subject files series: Chicano Caucus, Chicano Affairs, Education, Education-Bilingual, and Spanish Surnamed Employees.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Montoya, Joseph B.

Bilingual education and bilingualism

Vocational education - California

Mexican Americans - California

LP410:1-119

Series 1 Bill Files 1981-1990

Physical Description: 119 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files were created by Joseph B. Montoya while he served as an Assembly Member (1974-1978) and as a Senator (1979-1990). The files may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author’s statements, testimony, press releases, newspaper clippings, correspondence, reports, background research, and committee statements.

1974: AB4465 (1ff) LP410:1

1977-1978: AB35 (1ff) LP410:2

1981-1982: SB1386-SB1546 (2ff) LP410:3-4

1985-1986: SB2-SB2607; SCA1-SCA18; SCR17-SCR73; SJR37-SJR60 (62ff) LP410:5-66

1987-1988: SB11-SB2892; SCA39; SCR6-SCR95; SJR40; SR22 (45ff) LP410:67-111

1989-1990 SB72-SB1889; SCR56; SJR24, SB18x (8ff) LP410:112-119

LP410:120-230

Series 2 Subject Files 1973-1981

Physical Description: 111 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject files expand upon topics found in bill files and committee files and can include letters received, copies of letters sent, rough drafts, reports, transcripts, questionnaires, lists, telegrams, press releases, and memoranda relating to: Chicano affairs, education, energy, bilingual education, transportation, and various propositions.

See Appendix A for an alphabetical listing of subject headings.

Additional Series Information

Appendix A: List of Subject Files

Joint Committee on Vocational Education 1974-1975

LP410:231-232

Series 1 Reports 1974-1975

Physical Description: 2 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

Reports include information generated for the Joint Committee on Vocational Education as well as reports created for related committees such as the Assembly Committee on the Implementation of Career Education. Topics covered included labor perceptions of marketable skills, governance of career education delivery systems, vocational education planning committees, and funding of regional occupational centers.

Assembly Select Committee on Implementation of Career Education 1976

LP410:233-237

Series 1 Hearing Files 1976

Physical Description: 5 file folders and 9 audio cassettes

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by hearing date.

Scope and Content Note

Hearing files are from a series of hearings held on 9/24/1977 in Sacramento, 9/30/1976 in El Monte and 11/17/1976 in Hayward. The hearings centered on proposed changes to the law that would adjust how vocational education institutions and programs are classified and funded by the state. Hearing files contain transcripts of committee hearings, hearing agendas, press releases, correspondence, testimony, background information, and roll sheets.

Assembly Subcommittee on Adult and Vocational Education 1977

LP410:238-243

Series 1 Hearing Files 1977

Physical Description: 6 file folders and 20 audio cassettes

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by hearing date.

Scope and Content Note

Hearing Files are from hearings held in late 1977 focused on the creation of a single approval process for the authorization of new vocational education institutions and programs. Included hearing dates and locations are 10/19/1977 in San Diego; 11/2/1977 in La Puente; 11/8/1977 in Rosemead; 11/18/1977 and 12/1/1977 in Sacramento; and 12/13/1977 in San Jose. Hearing files contain transcripts of committee hearings, hearing agendas, press releases, correspondence, testimony, background information, and roll sheets.

Senate Select Committee on Farm Labor Problems 1979

LP410:244

Series 1 Hearing Files 1979

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by hearing date.

Scope and Content Note

Hearing File is from a hearing held on 6/12/1979 in Sacramento focused on studying and analyzing the farm labor disputes in California that resulted in one death and many more injuries. Hearing files contain transcripts of committee hearings, hearing agendas, testimony, background information, roll sheets, and the final report that resulted from the hearing.

Senate Select Committee on Licensed and Designated Sports 1983-1988

LP410:245-249

Series 1 Bill Files 1983-1988

Physical Description: 5 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by legislative session and then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

1983-1984: AB440 (1ff) LP410:245

1985-1986: SB11-SB1760 (3ff) LP410:246-248

1987-1988: SB1055 (1ff) LP410:249

LP410:250-256

Series 2 Subject Files 1983-1987

Physical Description: 7 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject files expand upon topics relevant to the Select Committee on Licensed and Designated Sports and can include letters received, copies of letters sent, rough drafts, reports, transcripts, telegrams, press releases, background research, and memoranda relating to the subject files found in this series which include Black Athletes (1983-1987); Financing Sports and Entertainment Facilities (1983-1988); General (1983-1989); Liability (1983-1990); NCAA Current Issues Forum, Los Angeles (1983-1991); and Worker’s Compensation (1983-1992).

LP410:257-259

Series 3 Correspondence 1984-1987

Physical Description: 3 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content Note

The correspondence files contain constituent correspondence to the committee and committee members. Also included are correspondence between committee members regarding meetings and other committee business. Subjects covered in the correspondence include drug abuse among college athletes, special interests groups’ position on legislation, workers’ compensation, and requests for responses.

LP410:260

Series 4 Hearing File 1985

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date.

Scope and Content Note

File is from a hearing on 10/24/1985 at UCLA. The title of the hearing is “Contact for Academic Achievement”. The purpose of the meeting was to bring NCAA Division I schools’ Chancellors together with the legislators to discuss policies of academic achievement, scholarships, and admission procedures of athletes. Files include meeting agenda, attendees list, meeting notes, news articles, background research, and written testimony and correspondence.

Senate Committee on Business and Professions 1983-1988

LP410:261

Series 1 Bill Files 1987-1988

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

The files may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author’s statements, testimony, press releases, newspaper clippings, correspondence, reports, background research, and committee statements.

1987-1988: SB741 (1ff) LP410:261

LP410:262

Series 2 Subject Files 1983-1986

Physical Description: 1 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

This “general” subject file includes background information on hearings, correspondence, reports, and agendas.