Governor Brown Vetoes Turf Bill

For the second time, an artificial turf bill has been vetoed by California’s Governor. In vetoing the bill, Governor Brown reasoned, as Governor Schwarzenegger did when he vetoed AB 1793 last year, that CIDs should not be micromanaged by the State Legislature.

CAI-CLAC reported yesterday that for the second time, an artificial turf bill has been vetoed by California’s Governor. In vetoing the bill, Governor Brown reasoned, as Governor Schwarzenegger did when he vetoed AB 1793 last year, that CIDs should not be micromanaged by the State Legislature.

The Legislature’s passage of the bill was due largely to the fact that it was marketed as a water conservation measure and as such explains the impressive vote in favor of it. The veto of this bill is a victory for local control rather than state mandated regulations.

The bill was sponsored by the San Diego County Water Authority and supported by the Association of California Water Agencies, and the City of San Diego, and opposed by CAI-CLAC.

Here is the Governor’s veto message, followed by an article in the press:

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 759 without my signature. Under this bill, homeowners associations that govern Common Interest Developments would be forced to approve the installation of AstroTurf. The decision about choosing synthetic turf instead of natural vegetation should be left to individual homeowners associations, not mandated by state law. For this reason, I am returning this bill.

 

Sincerely,

Edmund G. Brown Jr.

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July 15, 2011

Jerry Brown vetoes artificial turf bill backed by conservationists

Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed legislation that would have required homeowners associations to let people replace their lawns with artificial turf, the governor’s office announced today.

Senate Bill 759, by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, was supported by water conservationists and passed by the Legislature with some bipartisan support. It would have prohibited associations, which often govern the aesthetics of a neighborhood, from banning artificial turf.

“A decision to choose synthetic turf over natural vegetation is best left to individual homeowners associations, not mandated by state law,” the Democratic governor said in his veto message.

Lieu fired a testy Twitter message or two at Brown last month after the governor vetoed the first budget passed by Democratic lawmakers. But Lieu said this afternoon that he didn’t think the veto was in retribution.

“It does appear to me that Jerry Brown is looking at each bill on its merits and then making his decision,” he said.

** Sacramento Bee Newspaper

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