Inventory of the Howard L. Berman Papers, 1973-1982

Processed by The California State Archives staff.

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 Howard L. Berman Papers, 1973-1982

Inventory: LP207:150-229

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Contact Information:

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/

Processed by:: The California State Archives staff
Date Completed:: October 2003
Encoded by:: Sara Roberson

Descriptive Summary

Title: Berman (Howard L.) Papers,

Date (inclusive): 1973-1982

Collection number: LP207:150-229

Creator: Berman, Howard L.

Extent: 3 Cubic Feet

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: Howard L. Berman, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1973-1982. From 1974- 1980 Berman held the position of Assembly Majority Floor Leader. He also served as Democratic Caucus Chairman from 1981-1982. Berman authored bills concerning patient rights to access their own medical records, bail system reform, employee rights, and environmental issues.

Physical location: California State Archives

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

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], Howard L. Berman Papers, LP207:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition Information

The California State Archives acquired the Berman (Howard L.) Papers following his Assembly term.

Processing History

This collection was processed by staff of the California State Archives over a period of time and described in a finding aid in 2003.

Biography

Howard L. Berman, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1973-1982. He represented cities within Los Angeles County in the 57th Assembly District. Following redistricting in 1975, he represented the 43rd Assembly District.

Berman was born on April 15, 1941 in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he earned his B.A. and LL.B. degrees. He was a legal intern for the U.S. Department of Labor, a legislative intern for the Assembly Agriculture Committee and, a VISTA volunteer. Before entering politics he worked as an attorney. Berman was married to Harriet Katz until 1975. In 1979 he married Janis Schwartz with whom he has two daughters: Brinley and Lindsey.

Howard Berman was active in community affairs: serving as president of the California Federation of Young Democrats and as a member of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, the American Jewish Committee, Americans for Democratic Action, the Beverly Hills Democratic Club, the Fair Housing Council, and the Sierra Club.

Howard Berman was elected to the State Assembly in 1973. In 1974, Berman was appointed Assembly Majority Floor Leader and held that position until 1980. He also served as Democratic Caucus Chairman from 1981-1982.

According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), Berman served on the following committees:

California State Assembly, 1973-1982

Standing Committees
Business and Professions, 1981-1982
Education, 1973-1974
Elections and Reapportionment, 1976; 1981-1982
Finance, Insurance and Commerce, 1976-1977
Judiciary, 1979-1982
Labor, Employment, and Consumer Affairs, 1977
Labor Relations, 1973-1976
Vice Chair, 1973-1974
Policy Research Management, 1979
Chair, 1981-1982
Transportation, 1973-1974
Water, Parks and Wildlife, 1978-1980
Ways and Means, 1975; 1978-1982
Special Subcommittee
California's Food and Agricultural Economy, 1976
Select Committees
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, 1973-1974
Juvenile Violence, 1974
Medical Malpractice, 1973-1975
Chair, 1975
Joint Committees
Legal Equality, 1974, 1976
Vice Chair, 1976
Legislative Budget Committee, 1981-1982
Public Employer-Employee Relations, 1974
To Oversee the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, 1977-1978

Assembly Member Howard Berman was elected to represent California in the United States House of Representatives in 1982.

Scope and Content

The Howard L. Berman Papers consist of Assembly Bill Files, 1975-1982. The bill files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. The bills introduced by Berman include a wide array of subjects. He authored bills concerning patient rights to access their own medical records, bail system reform, employee rights, and environmental issues. In addition, as a member of the Legislature, Berman's major legislative accomplishments include the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, the Santa Monica Mountains Comprehensive Planning Commission, the Women and Singles Fair Credit Law and legislation to prohibit discrimination against pregnant employees. There are 41 color photos that are associated with several of these bill files.

Berman's Papers include Balanced Federal Budget Files, 1978-1979. These files pertain to a Constitutional Convention on a balanced Federal Budget.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been associated with these materials in the Archives' automated public access system (currently in development, November 2003).

Berman, Howard L. (Howard Lawrence), 1941-

Labor policy

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (Calif.)

Democratic Caucus (Calif.)

LP207:150-226

Series 1. Bill Files 1975-1982

Physical Description: 77 file folders

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session and numerically by bill number.

Bill files created by Howard L. Berman may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, testimony, press releases, editorials and newspaper clippings, correspondence, committee statements, and other information. Three photos separated from bill file AB3663 are identified as LP207:178, and 39 photos separated from bill file AB1354 are identified as LP207:211.

1975-1976 AB181 (1ff) LP207:150

1977-1978 AB245-AB3670; HR60 (29ff) LP207:151-179

1979-1980 AB2-AB3287 (25ff) LP207:180-204

1981-1982 AB298-AB3719; ACA78; ACA83 (22ff) LP207:205-226

LP207:227-229

Series 2. Balanced Federal Budget Files 1978-1979

Physical Description: 3 file folders

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Files are arranged chronologically by date.

Balanced Federal Budget Files created by Howard L. Berman show his opposition to holding a Constitutional Convention with the purpose of amending the U.S. Constitution to mandate a balanced Federal Budget annually. These files contain position statements received in support or opposition, committee statements, press releases, testimony, correspondence, background reports, studies, notes, and other information. Related California resolutions addressed in the files are AJR1, AJR2, SJR2, and AJR17.