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Assembly Bill 997 (Robinson – 1982)

Chapter 682, Statutes of 1982 AB 997

Some bill research does not include the Governor's file because at the time we researched the bill, the sitting Governor had not released his chaptered bill file. If the Governor's file is not included with this particular research, please contact our office (1-530-666-1917 or quote@legintent.com) and we will be happy to provide this file at no charge if it is available. Please Note: Governor files did not exist prior to 1943.

Labor Code sections 1700.4 and 1700.44 were amended, repealed and added; section 1700.46 was repealed; and Labor Code sections 1701 et seq. were enacted in 1982 following approval of Assembly Bill 997.  (See Exhibit #1i)  Assembly member Alatorre initially introduced the legislation on March 16, 1981.  (See Exhibit #1a)  However, the Senate amendments of August 2, 1982 gutted the bill and provisions relating to talent agencies were proposed by Assembly member Richard Robinson, who then carried the measure through to enactment.  (See Exhibits #1e and #4) 

As introduced, Assembly Bill 997 addressed the issue of the use of truth verification devices by employers or prospective employers.  (See Exhibit #1a)  In this form, the measure was heard by the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment, the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Industrial Relations and the Senate Committee on Finance.  (See Exhibits #2 and #6)  Four amendments were made during this time, one by the Assembly and three by the Senate.  (See Exhibits #1b through #1e and #2)  This last amendment, which occurred on August 2, 1982, replaced the provisions regarding the use of truth verification devises with the proposal to add section 1700.4a to the Labor Code relating to talent agencies.  (See Exhibit #1e)   

In this form, Assembly Bill 997 was heard by the Senate Committee on Business and Professions and the Senate Committee on Finance.  (See Exhibits #2 and #4)  Three more amendments were made to the bill while before the Senate.  (See Exhibits #1f through #1h and #2)  Following legislative approval, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed Assembly Bill 997 on August 31, 1982, and it was recorded by the Secretary of State as Chapter 682 of the Statutes of 1982.  (See Exhibits #1i and #2)

Given the history of this bill as noted above we include with this report only that material which is relevant to Assembly Bill 997 as enacted with the talent agency provisions.  Should you wish to receive the material not related to these provisions, please let us know.  The only charge associated with such a request would be the transmission charge. 

It is not readily clear from the documents, or from Assembly member Robinson, why the Legislature deleted the provisions regarding truth verification devices from the bill and substituted the provisions regarding talent agencies.  A statement prepared by the Association of Talent Agents addressed the issue of “AB 997, Due Process and Fair Hearings” called “[t]he ‘hijacking’ of AB 997 . . . an obvious effort to subvert the legislative process calling for full and fair hearings on important legislative measures.”  (See Exhibit #5, document SP-2)