Posted on 05/22/2004 2:51:36 PM PDT by BenLurkin
SACRAMENTO - Although the late Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight, R-Palmdale, was laid to rest last week, pending legislation bearing his name lives on. A measure by Knight that champions school choice and educational innovation received approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee and now heads to the Senate floor. Another bill also awaits the full Senate's consideration before a May 28 deadline.
Knight's Senate Bill 1531, approved Thursday by a vote of 7-1, would remove the limit on the number of charter schools that can operate within the state. The bill will encourage further expansion of these schools by allowing local school boards to approve more charters and provide parents with a greater array of educational opportunities for their children.
"Studies show that charter schools are cost-effective, innovative and successful," said Assemblyman John Benoit, who is shepherding the bill for Knight. "Senator Knight wanted to do everything possible to encourage access to these schools, and maintaining a cap is counterproductive to that effort."
The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office recommended that the Legislature enact a number of pro-charter reforms, including elimination of the statewide cap. With the exception of Knight's SB 1531, every bill introduced in the Legislature this year to enact these recommendations has been defeated by the California Teachers Association.
The other Knight bill that will be considered by the full Senate this week would streamline regulations on the use of flame-throwers by pyrotechnic operators under one state agency. Permits to use flame-throwers in movie productions can only be obtained after extensive and duplicative background checks by the state fire marshal and the Department of Justice.
Processing times for these permits range from one to two months, at an annual cost of $377. Waiting for application approvals adds unnecessary costs to l reputable film companies already beset with a myriad of regulations, fees and taxes, thus providing an additional reason to move further production outside of California, a Knight staff member said.
"Senator Knight was very pro-business, but this issue hit his constituents directly and therefore has an impact on the economics of the district," said David Orosco, the late senator's communications director. "This measure is reasonable, streamlining legislation that will send a positive message to the movie industry."
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