California
Antenna Bill Could Soon Be on its Way to Governor
NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 25, 2003--California's
latest effort to pass an Amateur Radio antenna bill--Assembly Bill 1228--this
week passed the state Senate on a unanimous 38-0 vote. Sponsored by freshman
Assemblymember Bob Dutton (R-63rd), the bill received unanimous approval April
10 in the California Assembly where it got a 67-0 vote. The bill returns to the
Assembly at this point for its approval of minor wording changes made in the
Senate. Given the prior unanimous vote, Dutton's office expects Assembly
approval to be routine, and the bill soon could be on its way to the governor's
desk.
"Certainly the people seem to be speaking here," said ARRL staff member
and antenna expert Dean Straw, N6BV, who lives in San Francisco. "Perhaps Gov
Davis should be alerted that there are 100,000 Amateur Radio operators in
California--and that we are also voters, should there be a recall campaign."
An effort under
way to recall Gov Gray Davis, a Democrat, is said to be gaining ground. The California legislature approved a nearly identical PRB-1 measure
three years ago, but Davis vetoed it, because funds for
required studies were not included in his budget. The new bill carries no price
tag.
ARRL Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, expressed
elation at the measure's unanimous California Senate vote. "That's
a vote of appreciation and confidence for Amateur Radio in California," he
said. "Bob Dutton and his staff have done a marvelous job getting the bill through
both houses of the California Legislature. Now we have to focus our attention
on the governor's office." ARRL Pacific Division Director Bob
Vallio, W6RGG, spoke at an April 2 Assembly hearing on AB 1228. Dutton's
office has recommended that amateurs who urge Davis to sign the bill stress its
emergency communication benefits to the state, which has, by far, the largest number radio
amateurs of any other state and nearly 15 percent of US total.
Mike Mitchell, W6RW, has been spearheading
the Amateur Radio community's effort to promote the bill, the first piece of
legislation sponsored by Dutton--elected last November--to reach the Assembly
floor.
AB 1228 would
incorporate the language of PRB-1 into the statutes of California. It would
require any ordinance regulating Amateur Radio antenna structures to not
preclude but to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communications, to allow
amateur station antenna structures "at heights and dimensions sufficient to
accommodate Amateur Radio Service communications" and to constitute "the
minimum practicable regulation to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the city
or county."
Earlier this month the Senate added language
to the bill that was not included in the Assembly-passed version. The new
language, which the Assembly must now approve, declares that the Legislature's
intent in enacting the bill is to "codify in state law
the provisions of specified federal regulations relating to
amateur radio station facilities."
To date, 19
states have incorporated the essence of PRB-1 into their laws. A copy of
the proposed
legislation as approved by the Senate is available on the California
Legislature Web site.
Page last modified: 02:24 PM, 25 Jun 2003 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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