Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s Stadium Violence Prevention Bill
Next time you find yourself at a football game, with a front row seat to a brawl in the stands between two rowdy fans, you’ll be able to more quickly and less conspicuously summon stadium security. Assembly Bill 2464, the Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act, authored by Assemblyman Mike Gatto, was signed into law today by Governor Brown.
The Act will require major-league sports stadiums in California to clearly post the numbers fans can use to call or text-message stadium security, both inside and outside the venues. Most stadiums verbally announce the contact information for stadium security at the beginning of the game, but many fans don’t remember this number several innings later and in the midst of an emotionally charged altercation mere steps away. Now fans don’t have to memorize this number – it will be a mainstay at all professional sports stadiums and arenas in the state.
Posting these signs will enable incidents to be resolved more quickly, before a victim is seriously injured. In fact, several of the more high-profile beatings lasted over a span of several minutes, during which frantic fans dialed 911. In those instances, it is stadium security (from within the stadium) and not the police (coming from outside the stadium) who is best equipped to quickly respond and prevent an injury from becoming more serious.
The signs mandated by AB 2464 will also serve as a reminder to would-be perpetrators that they will be caught, hopefully adding an ounce of prevention to this modest cure. “It has become apparent that we need to act to keep the action at professional games on the field and out of the stands,” said Gatto, “AB 2464 is a simple, common-sense, and preventative solution.”
Mike Gatto’s Bill to Protect Senior Citizens Signed into Law
AB 1624, an important measure to protect senior citizens and others from having their bank accounts drained, was signed into law today by Governor Brown.
“The signing of AB 1624 ensures that senior citizens, the disabled, and others who entrust caregivers and family members with their finances will not find themselves to be penniless victims of unscrupulous actors,” commented Gatto. “By clarifying that funds in bank accounts with more than one signer belong to the person who contributes them, we will protect seniors and anyone who is in a non-traditional relationship.”
The bill was necessary after a divided California Court of Appeal stunned legal pundits when it held that whoever withdraws money first from a bank account becomes the owner of the funds. That decision, in Lee v. Yang (2003) 111 Cal. App. 4th 481, was widely panned by the Conference of California Bar Associations and senior advocates like the California AARP as a license to drain an unsuspecting senior citizen’s bank account.
“I am grateful that Governor Brown has joined me to reverse this ruling that left thousands of Californians financially exposed,” said Gatto. “The law should not protect those who use positions of trust to legally victimize vulnerable Californians.”
Bill to Allow Motorists to Show Proof of Auto Insurance on Their Smartphones Signed into Law
Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s Assembly Bill 1708 was also signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today. The measure now gives California drivers the option to present their proof of auto insurance in electronic form, such as on a smartphone or other personal electronic device.
“The signing of AB 1708 is a real win-win for consumers and auto insurance providers,” said Assemblyman Gatto. “This legislation falls into the category of making people’s lives easier by embracing technology in order to eliminate one of life’s small hassles, and it brings laws dealing with possessing and presenting proof of auto insurance into the electronic age.”
Under the measure, auto insurance providers would be authorized to issue the state-required proof of insurance documentation in electronic form, if requested by a consumer. The bill also clarifies to law enforcement officials that the electronic version of this insurance document is equivalent to the paper form and acceptable for presentation during a traffic stop or after an accident.
“It only makes sense for the state where the iPad was designed to remain on the technological forefront,” continued Gatto. “As lawmakers, we should always be on the lookout for ways to help state law evolve with technology in a way that allows for more efficiency in the way business is transacted in California.
Concluded Gatto, “you see the flashing lights. You get pulled over. You nervously start fumbling for that tiny proof of insurance paper the company sent you last month. You find items in your glove compartment from the last stone age, but no paper…and now you will be cited for one more thing- not having your proof of insurance. No more. Now you will be able to prove you’re insured by simply pulling out your smartphone.”
AB 1708 is one of three bills signed into law Friday authored by Assemblyman Gatto.
