Last-Minute Bills Boost Minimum Wage, Tighten Gun Restrictions

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Lawmakers passed several key bills in the final hours of the legislative session on Thursday.

Bills hit the Assembly and Senate floors, and in what seemed like only minutes, they were struck down or sent to the governor's desk.

Californians who earn minimum wage will see some extra money in their pockets, as the hourly rate will jump a dollar by January, and an additional dollar in two years.

"When it gets to $10 an hour, it will be the highest level in the country, and this is largest increase ever in a minimum-wage bill," said Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas).

He scored two big wins as not only did that bill pass, but illegal immigrants will now be able to obtain a specially marked driver's license.

"It's African immigrants, it's Asian immigrants, it's European immigrants. It's immigrant communities of all colors of all backgrounds that will benefit," he said.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly disagrees.

"I think it is offensive that we are going to give people a separate, but not quite equal driver's license."

Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg will get a tougher gun law with the governor's approval as semi-automatic rifles would no longer have detachable magazines. That was paired with a legislation package that also includes stricter rules for obtaining a gun.

While a large stack of bills now await the governor, lawmakers did not come to an agreement on several union contracts. They won't be back until January, so without money allocated, there will be no deal.