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Inventory of the Tom Bates Papers

LP394

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Table of contents

Series Descriptions

LP394:1-284

Series 1 Bill Files 1977-1996

Physical Description: 284 file folders

Arrangement

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

Scope and Content Note

Bill files created by Tom Bates may include bill analyses, statements, amendments, correspondence, press releases, newspaper clippings, and background information. Some of Bates's notable accomplishments in the legislature include his long struggle to pass a motor voter bill. Bates made several attempts to make voter registration available at the Department of Motor Vehicles but was continuously vetoed by Governor Deukmejian (AB1787, 1985; AB899, 1987; AB864, 1989). A bill was eventually passed (AB979, 1992) shortly before the federal Motor Voter Act of 1993. During his tenure as an assemblyman, Bates was able to add age, disability, and sexual orientation to those groups granted additional remedies against violence under the Ralph Civil Rights Act (AB848, 1984). Bates also passed legislation requiring that security bars have an emergency release latch after several people perished because they were trapped in their homes during the 1991 Oakland fire (AB3026, 1995). Bates was also responsible for the legalization of the nation's first brewpubs (AB3610, 1981). His legislation was mimicked across the nation and brewpubs are now a sizeable industry in the United States. Bates created the Eastshore State Park turning an undeveloped strip of coastline in the East Bay into a park for hiking, biking, and other day-activities (AB809, 1989; AB754, 1991). Bates, concerned for the environment, also passed legislation requiring the California Department of Transportation to pursue and invest more in bicycle facilities (AB3933, 1983).

1977-1978: AB515-AB3753, ACR18-160 (LP394:1-36)

1979-1980: AB81-AB3250, ACR113 (LP394:37-73)

1981-1982: AB470-AB3768, ACR34 (LP394:74-99)

1983-1984: AB3-AB3934, ACR54-ACR151 (LP394:100-141)

1985-1986: AB459-AB4411, ACA16, ACR17-ACR118, AJR80 (LP394:142-176)

1987-1988: AB79-AB4418, ACA37-ACA61, ACR89-ACR161 (LP394:177-200)

1989-1990: AB478-AB4319, ACR59-ACR80, AB26X-AB37X (LP394:201-234)

1991-1992: AB293-AB3800, ACA30, ACR14-ACR45, AJR19, AB25X-AB59X (LP394:235-265)

1993-1994: AB535-AB3076, ACR146, AB90X-AB94X (LP394:266-272)

1995-1996: AB4-AB3436, AB34XX (LP394:273-284)

LP394:285

Series 2 Hearing File 1989

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Hearing file arranged chronologically by date of hearing.

Scope and Content Note

The hearing series consists of one file folder containing a transcript of a hearing held in San Jose on October 27, 1989 before the Joint Select Task Force on the Changing Family, of which Tom Bates was a co-chair, regarding planning a community that works for families.

LP394:286-383

Series 3 Subject Files 1979-1996

Physical Description: 98 file folders

Arrangement

Subject files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject files may contain newspaper clippings, press releases, correspondence, reports, notes, memoranda and other materials. The subject files contain information gathered by Bates, his chief of staff Dion Aroner, capitol office staff, and district office staff in Berkeley. The subjects covered in this series are reflective of the length of time Tom Bates spent addressing the issues as a member of the corresponding committees during his 20-year legislative career. The subjects most covered in this series are a direct reflection of Tom Bates's lengthiest committee appointments, which were to the Assembly Committees on Human Services, Natural Resources, and Public Safety. As such, the files primarily cover issues dealing with human services, the environment, and the criminal justice system.

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

LP394:384-404

Series 4 Chronological Correspondence 1991-2004

Physical Description: 21 file folders

Arrangement

Correspondence is arranged chronologically by month.

Scope and Content Note

Chronological correspondence contains outgoing letters sent by Tom Bates to constituents, public agencies, and other officials. The correspondence covers a wide range of subjects relating to Bates's legislation, issues affecting his legislative district, and assembly committees. Most of the letters contain either Bates's expressed support or opposition on an issue or a request to the Governor for support or opposition on an issue. Also in the chronological correspondence are letters and supplementary material from constituents that Bates occasionally retained with his return response.

LP394:405-411

Series 5 News Clippings 1986-1988

Physical Description: 7 file folders

Arrangement

News clippings are arranged by subject then chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

News clippings contain articles mentioning Tom Bates. The news clippings are primarily from Northern California news publications but also include articles from Los Angeles area papers. Bates kept a file of news clippings containing general references to his legislative work and separate files of news clippings on subjects that were of particular interest to him.

General, May 1986-March 1988 (LP394:405-406)
Campaigns, June 1986-March 1988 (LP394:407)
Mountain Lions, January 1987-May 1987 (LP394:408)
National Guard, May 1986-March 1988 (LP394:409)
Water, June 1986-February 1988 (LP394:410)
Women, August 1986-February 1988 (LP394:411)

LP394:412-430

Series 6 Photographs 1938-1996

Physical Description: 19 file folders

Arrangement

Photographs are arranged alphabetically by topic.

Scope and Content Note

Photograph files contain photographs of both Tom Bates as well as numerous California political figures (including Art Agnos, Tom Bradley, Jerry Brown, Willie Brown, Alan Cranston, Ron Dellums, Elihu Harris, Bill Lockyer, Leo McCarthy, George Miller, Nicholas Petris, Art Torres, and Maxine Waters) as well as activist Cesar Chavez, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, presidential hopefuls Gary Hart and Walter Mondale, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor Ed Asner, and Olympic Gold Medalist Edwin Moses.

LP394:431-603

Series 7 Assembly Human Services Committee Files 1976-1995

Physical Description: 171 file folders

Arrangement

Assembly Human Service Committee Files are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Content Note

The Assembly Human Service Committee Files contain reports, correspondence, news clippings, press releases, bill files, committee notes, hearing testimony and other materials. Tom Bates served on the Assembly Human Services Committee from 1983-1996 and chaired the committee from 1983-1994. During this time Bates kept extensive subject files specific to the committee and its issues.

For an alphabetical list of Assembly Human Services Committee subjects, see Appendix C in Master Finding Aid at the California State Archives.

LP394:604-616

Series 8 Assembly Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee Files 1979-1982

Physical Description: 13 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged into two subseries: (1) Subject Files and (2) Correspondence.

Scope and Content Note

The Assembly Mental Health and Development Disabilities Subcommittee Files are arranged into two subseries: (1) Subject Files, and (2) Correspondence. Tom Bates served on the Assembly Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee from 1977-1982 and chaired the subcommittee from 1979-1982. Bates kept some of the files after leaving the position as chair.

LP394:604-610

Subseries 1 Subject Files 1979-1982

Physical Description: 7 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

The first subseries, Subject Files, contain newsletters, correspondence, reports, proposals, and applications relating to Alameda County Mental Health Care, 1981-1982; Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Overview (1979-1982); Mental Health Care Applications (1979); and Mental Health Legislative Work Group (1979-1980).

LP394:611-616

Subseries 2 Correspondence 1979-1982

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by month.

Scope and Content Note

The second subseries, Correspondence, consists of letters between various individuals pertaining to the Assembly Mental Health and Development Disabilities Subcommittee and its issues.

Series Descriptions

Bill Files

Hearing File

Subject Files

Chronological Correspondence

News Clippings

Photographs

Assembly Human Services Committee Files

Assembly Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee Files

Subject Files

Correspondence