Governor Actions

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Three More Jeffries Bills

BILL NUMBER: SB 505
VETOED DATE: 10/12/2009

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 505 without my signature.

While I concur that counties must ensure that adequate fire protection is available in an area before approving additional development, I am concerned that this bill will result in additional General Fund costs and create significant cost pressures to maintain State Responsibility Areas and fire hazard severity zone maps. In addition, I am also concerned with the cost pressures this bill will place upon local governments to implement this measure.

For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

BILL NUMBER: AB 625
VETOED DATE: 10/12/2009

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 625 without my signature.

This measure would prohibit the sale, distrubition, or promotion of novelty lighters, as defined. While reducing the risks of accidental fires is important, there is simply no evidence that novelty lighters are any more to blame for incidents of accidental fires than other types of lighters or matches. In addition, this measure would place additional burdens on both state and local authorities at a time of severe budget reductions.

For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

BILL NUMBER: AB 666
VETOED DATE: 10/12/2009

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 666 without my signature.

I support strong fire safety standards for new developments, especially when they are located in high fire hazard severity zones. However, I have many concerns with this bill in its current form.

This bill would place an increased workload on the State without additional staff or other resources to meet the workload. Without funding to ensure this bill can be implemented, this piece of legislation cannot help prevent wildfires in our State.

In addition, it is not clear why these new requirements would be placed on counties but not cities as well. Certainly, many cities in California are as at risk for wildfires as counties.

For these reasons I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger