Series Descriptions

Physical Description: 240 file folders

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

Most bill files include all or some of the following items: bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, press releases, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. Of particular interest are bills that focused on Farr's "three E's" which he prioritized in the legislature: economic development, educational excellence, and environmental protection. Farr was a strong opponent of President Reagan's proposal to open up certain sections of the California coastline to offshore oil drilling; his AJR19 of 1981-1982 urged Congress to uphold a federal moratorium on drilling. He authored AB2600 in 1981-1982, which would have outlawed the use of certain steel-jawed animal traps. In 1984, his AB2099 became Proposition 18 on the statewide ballot; it sold general obligation bonds to finance improvements and upgrades to state parks (it passed, 63 to 37 percent). Also in 1984, a constitutional amendment of Farr's, ACA6, made it onto the statewide ballot as Proposition 34 (it failed, 53 to 47 percent). In the 1985-1986 session, he proposed divesting all state funds from companies doing business with apartheid-era South Africa (AB1300); banning corporal punishment in public schools (AB1617); requiring agricultural companies to label their products by country of origin (AB1630); allowing judges to require convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlock ("Breathalyzer") devices in their cars (AB 3939); and holding oil companies fully liable for the negative effects of oil spills (AB4044). The Farr Act of 1987-88 (AB4327) increased state regulation of art dealers, with the intent of reducing fraudulent art sales. A strong supporter of environmental regulation, Farr introduced the Ozone Protection Act of 1993 (AB2358) just before departing the Assembly for Congress.

1981-1982: AB227-AB3802, ACR4-ACR152, AJR19-AJR126 (27ff) LP391:1-27

1983-1984: AB43-AB3979, ACA6-ACA76, ACR4-ACR170,AJR15-AJR95 (41ff) LP391:28-68

1985-1986: AB123-AB4251, ACR60-ACR170, AJR8-AJR42 (75ff) LP391:69-143

1987-1988: AB7-AB4634, ACR37-ACR92, AJR23-AJR72 (30ff) LP391:144-173

1989-1990: AB409-AB4305, ACA35-ACA50, ACR2-ACR112,AJR13-AJR114, AB30X-AB41X, SB14X (33ff) LP391:174-206

1991-1992: AB6-AB3783, ACA17-ACA44, ACR53-ACR74,AJR3-AJR88 (33ff) LP391:207-235

1993-1994: AB160-AB2358, ACR22 (5ff) LP391:236-240

Physical Description: 237 file folders

Subject files are arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Subject Files expand upon topics found in the bill files and include additional background information on topics Farr considered most important as a legislator: arts in education, offshore oil drilling, state parks, local school district issues, and general issues of the 1980s such as abortion, crime, Proposition 13, taxes and welfare.

Included in Subject Files are correspondence from constituents and other legislators, news clippings, government reports, internal memoranda between Farr and his staff, and transcripts of speeches given by Farr.

For a complete list of subjects, see Appendix A in Master Finding Aid at the California State Archives.

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Press clippings are arranged chronologically by year into four years: 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986.

Press clippings consist of photocopied newspaper articles pertaining to Sam Farr - both his legislation and his activities within his district.

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Press releases are arranged chronologically by year into five years: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986.

This series consists of official press releases from Farr's Assembly office, the Assembly Committee on Economic Development and New Technologies which he chaired, and the Friends of Farr Committee (his election campaign committee).

Physical Description: 3 file folders

Correspondence is arranged chronologically by year.

Correspondence covers a variety of subjects, ranging from impending legislation (including Farr's legislation and proposals by other legislators), controversial issues of the day, and local issues and problems constituents requiring Farr's assistance. Correspondence is not comprehensive and most, if not all, of the subjects addressed in the correspondence files are addressed in greater detail in the Subject Files and Bill Files of this collection.

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Campaign files are arranged chronologically.

Campaign files consist of reports filed with the Secretary of State and the Fair Political Practices Commission, internal memoranda between campaign staff, press releases, news clippings, and campaign literature.