Information from our ARRL SW Division Director "Fried Heyn (SW Dir)" wa6wzo@arrl.org
FYI:
73,
Don Milbury, W6YN
---------------------------------------------- Below is an update of a couple of days ago on SB-1714 by the Pacific Division Director, Jim Maxwell (W6CF). The Pacific Division includes northern California and Jim is closer to the action in Sacramento. Anyway, it will give you more details of where we are at this point. Note, the current amended copy of the bill is at the bottom. Tnx for helping get the word out and encouraging fellow hams to write their state Senators (and Assemblymen). 73/Fried(ô¿ô)2b=2do=2b _________________ Update on California S.1714
As has been mentioned in the past, legislation has been introduced in the California State Senate with the objective of providing relief to many California hams who live in communities with highly restrictive antenna ordinances. Senator Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga introduced the legislation, S.1714. In April the bill was assigned to the Senate Local Government Committee (SLGC) for hearing. The chair of the SLGC is Senator Richard K. Rainey, of Contra Costa County. Senator Rainey is the former County Sheriff, and was responsible for establishing the Sheriff's Amateur Radio Reserve in his county.
The committee hearing was held on May 3, in Sacramento. Five hams attended: Dave Leeson, W6NL, Jim Maxwell, W6CF, Mike Mitchell, W6RW, Dean Straw, N6BV, and Harry Styron, K6HS. Prior to the committee hearing the group met with Sen. Brulte in his office. It developed that discussions between Sen. Brulte's staff and the SLGC staff had revealed that the committee would not vote the legislation out of committee due to the specific height limitations given in the proposed statute. We were informed by Sen. Brulte that the committee would accept an amended bill which included the following major elements: a section that would place the essential language of PRB-1 into California law, plus a provision that would require the State Office of Planning and Research to develop a model ordinance, with amateurs participating in the development of that ordinance. Those of us present at the meeting felt that the compromise was the best deal we could get at this time.
The amended bill was then passed handily based upon a verbal agreement of the amended contents; a formal, written version did not exist at that time. However, last week the official text of the amended version of S.1714 became available. A copy of the text is included at the end of this Update. A careful reading reveals some discrepancies with our May 3 discussions. Subsequent investigation has revealed that some text was inadvertently left out of the version now published. Steps are now being taken to correct the error. Several of us will be tracking the bill very carefully to ensure that the corrections are made.
The bill is now awaiting action by the Senate Appropriations Committee. You may follow the progress of this bill by going to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov and following the links to "subscribe" to the bill by number. You will then receive email notice whenever any action takes place.
Meanwhile, letters to your Senator and Assemblyman will still be helpful. If you're not certain who your Senator or Assemblyman is, go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html to locate them.
********************* Text of S.1714 as Amended:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 65850.3 is added to the Government Code, to read: 65850.3. Any ordinance adopted by the legislative body of a city or county shall not preclude amateur radio service communications. Any ordinance shall reasonably accommodate amateur radio service communications and shall constitute the minimum practicable regulation to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the city or county. SEC. 2. On or before July 1, 2001, the Director of the Office of Planning and Research shall do all of the following: (a) Prepare and publish a technical assistance bulletin suitable for use by local officials and planners in the preparation and adoption of local ordinances that regulate the placement, screening, and height of amateur radio service antennas. In preparing this bulletin, the director shall consult with individuals and groups with experience in amateur radio service communications and land use regulation, including, but not limited to, the American Radio Relay League, the American Planning Association, the California Association of Realtors, the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the Federal Communications Commission. (b) Prepare and publish a model ordinance suitable for adoption by the legislative bodies of cities and counties for the regulation of the placement, screening, and height of amateur radio service antennas. (c) Report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding any recommendations for changes to the state statutes regarding state or local regulation of amateur radio service antennas.
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Amateur Radio: If you're not having fun, you are not doing it right!
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Donald L Milbury