Ed. Note: The following article is a news release provided by the office of Assemblyman Scott Wilk.

Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, announced one of his bills was signed into law and two others have moved forward.

Wilk’s Identity Confirmation Act Signed Into Law

The Identity Confirmation Act by Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, was signed into law  Tuesday by Governor Brown.

AB 349 would provides law enforcement with an effective tool to fully confirm a motorist’s identity.

“The act of obstructing one’s face from law enforcement is a public safety concern and I am thankful the governor chose to sign this measure,” Wilk said. “AB 346 will equip law enforcement officers with the means to not only protect themselves, but our communities here in California.”

This legislation addresses a loophole in current law, which was brought to light by a routine traffic stop. Verifying one’s identity is a necessary component in traffic stops.

A license by itself only provides evidence of the licensee’s identity; it does not establish that the driver and the licensee are the same person.

AB 346 will require a motorist, who is lawfully detained in a traffic stop, to present his or her full face to a law enforcement officer as a part of the identification process.

“I am very thankful that AB 346 has been signed. With this legislation, officers and citizens can feel confident that the correct person is being identified through the use of a common sense approach to visually comparing their identification card to their face,” said Chris Coulter, past president of the Simi Valley Police Officers Association President. “This will speed up the contact process and provide assurances that the right person is held responsible for their actions and not have another person put in jeopardy. I am sincerely thankful to Assemblyman Wilk and his staff who made this a reality.”

AB 346 passed through the legislature with bipartisan support. It will take effect on January 1, 2016.

The 38th Assembly District encompasses Simi Valley, the northern section of the San Fernando Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Wilk Bill to Honor Connie Worden-Roberts Passes Assembly Fiscal Committee

Assemblyman Scott Wilk’s, R-Santa Clarita, bill which would rename the Golden Valley Road Bridge over State Highway Route 14 in the City of Santa Clarita as the “Connie Worden-Roberts Memorial Bridge,” passed unanimously out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee Thursday.

“ACR 89 will allow us to honor Connie Worden-Roberts for her dedication to our community. Renaming the Golden Valley Road Bridge after Connie memorializes her legacy to the Santa Clarita Valley,” Wilk said. “Clearing this key fiscal committee is always a huge hurdle.”

Worden-Roberts championed the development of the valley’s transportation network for nearly four decades, serving as the vice-chair of the City of Santa Clarita Formation Committee and serving on the city’s first planning commission.

She also served as chairwoman of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County, founder of the Valley Industry Association, former chairwoman of the board and director of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of many more community organizations.

The bill heads to the Assembly Floor next.

The 38th Assembly District encompasses Simi Valley, the northern section of the San Fernando Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Franchise Agreement Bill Passes Senate Committee

Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, presented a bill that protects the rights of small business franchise owners Tuesday.

AB 525 makes it more difficult for major chains to unfairly terminate their franchise operators.

The measure will update the current vague and one-sided law to close loopholes and prohibit a corporation from closing a franchise business unless there has been a substantial violation of the contract, the law or local regulations.

It also allows franchisees to keep the equity they invested in the event of termination and sell the business to a qualified new owner.

This measure passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 7-0.

“A small business person who invests their life savings to buy a franchise, should be treated like a business partner, not an indentured servant,” Wilk said. “This bill begins to bring into balance the relationship between the small business owner and the corporate franchisor.”

Wilk has jointly authored AB 525 with Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, Assemblymembers Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Chris Holden, D-Pasadena.

The bill now heads to the Senate Floor.

The 38th Assembly District encompasses Simi Valley, the northern section of the San Fernando Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley.