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When state Sen. Joe Simitian was mayor of Palo Alto, he used to get just as much input at the grocery store as he did in the council chambers. People would stop him in the produce section and freezer aisle and at the checkout stand to speak their minds about issues facing the city.
Shortly after being elected to the state Assembly in 2000, though, he learned that state legislators are far more removed from the general public, spending most of their time with other legislators, staff members and lobbyists.
"I said, 'I've got to find a way to engage my constituents more regularly,' " Simitian said.
So the "Oughta Be A Law" contest was born, yielding several successful pieces of legislation suggested by everyday residents of California.
The latest contributor whose suggestion may go on California's books is Redwood Estates resident Ron "Dean" Tomich. After purchasing tickets at a San Jose theater, Tomich noticed that his complete debit card number was printed on the receipt.
He called the Santa Clara County district attorney's office to see if that was legal.
"They looked it up and said the law only covers credit cards," Tomich said, referring to state code that prevents the printing of more than the five last digits of a credit card on receipts.
Tomich called then-Assemblyman Simitian's office and was told of the contest. He submitted the suggestion that the same restriction be placed on debit card receipts, especially since they directly access bank accounts instead of a line of credit.
After being elected to the state Senate, Simitian chose Tomich's and five others' suggestions from a pool of 129. On April 5, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 5-1 to forward the bill to the Senate floor.
"This is a common-sense solution to an everyday problem," Simitian said. "That's true of a lot of the bills that I end up selecting from the contest. We have a very smart, caring and engaged district."
The judiciary committee also voted 6-0 to forward another contest winner--a Los Altos couple's suggestion to lower processing fees for adoption papers.
If the Senate approves Tomich's bill (SB 802), it will go into law Jan. 1, 2006. A federal law with the same provision will actually go into effect the following year, but Simitian said this one would provide protection in the interim.
Tomich said he would be pleased if his submission is approved but politely declined acceptance of his prize: A lunch with Simitian and the opportunity to present the law himself. There was only one catch. He would have had to get up before 6 a.m. and drive to Sacramento. Now that he might not need to lose sleep over privacy, Tomich said he doesn't care to lose any for a free lunch, either.
"If they had it at three in the afternoon, maybe I would have gone," he said with a laugh.
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