Jerry Brown signs bills on party buses, alcohol promotions

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Gov. Jerry Brown continued poring through stacks of legislation over the weekend, announcing Sunday that he had signed 34 bills and vetoed five.

One bill (AB 45) approved by the governor is aimed at reducing underage drinking on chartered party buses. The bill’s author, Assemblyman Jerry Brown (D-San Mateo), said he became aware of the issue when a drunken 19-year-old crashed his car soon after being dropped off by a party bus.

Another measure (AB 2184) will allow celebrities to hold promotional events at liquor stores. Until now, strict rules have prevented a celebrity endorser or high-profile winemaker from showing up at a liquor store to sign bottles.

Brown vetoed a bill (AB 2200) that would have suspended the carpool lane in the mornings heading east on Interstate 80 in the Bay Area.

‘Encouraging carpooling is important to reduce pollution and make more efficient use of our highways,’ Brown wrote in a veto message.

Another bill (AB 1625) that got spiked would have created a state fund to help farms transition from conventional to organic farming. It was estimated to cost $25,000 a year.

‘I would prefer to see a nongovernmental entity take the lead in this matter, especially given our current fiscal uncertainties,’ wrote Brown.

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-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento
twitter.com/chrismegerian