Legislation

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld California’s $3 billion stem cell agency, which was approved by voters under Proposition 71 in 2004. California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s office defended the measure’s legal challenge. Fifty-nine percent of voters approved the groundbreaking measure in 2004.

Wednesday’s decision frees $3 billion in funding for stem cell research that was stalled by opponents’ frivolous legal challenges. California voters adopted the measure in the wake of the Bush administration’s failure to support research that potentially help people with Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other serious conditions.

“I pledged to vigorously support stem cell research and today is a victory for California’s voters and medical science,” Brown said. “This decision allows California to take on the groundbreaking scientific research that the Bush administration ignored.”

The KFC Corp. agreed Tuesday to comply with a 1986 voter-approved initiative requiring companies that expose consumers to harmful substances provide a 'clear and reasonable warning.'

The company agreed to warn California customers that its fried or baked potatoes contain acrylamide, a chemical known to cause cancer. Acrylamide, a byproduct created by the reaction of chemicals in food and high heat, is found in French fries and potato chips at high levels. For example, a serving of fries or potato chips has approximately 82 times more acrylamide than is allowed in drinking water under U.S. EPA standards.

Proposition 65, the initiative demanding the exposure warnings, was approved by 63 percent of California voters.

The KFC Corp., in settling a lawsuit with California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr., agreed to supply consumers with acrylamide warnings to comport with Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. The company, without admitting wrongdoing, also agreed to pay $208,000 in civil penalties and $133,000 to fund Proposition 65 enforcement actions.

A hearing before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Wendell Mortimer Jr. is scheduled May 29, when the California Department of Justice and the KFC Corp. will request the court's approval.

The settlement was the first as part of an ongoing Proposition 65 enforcement action against major food and beverage producers. They include: Frito-Lay Inc., Pepsico Inc., H.J. Heinz Co., Kettle Foods Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing Co., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Co., Wendy's International Inc., McDonald's Corp., and Burger King Corp.

The settlement agreement is attached.