Brown signs ‘Redskins’ and tobacco bans, vetoes family leave bill

Under Assembly Bill 30, authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, public schools have until 2017 to phase out the use of the name “Redskins.” Under Assembly Bill 30, authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, public schools have until 2017 to phase out the use of the name “Redskins.” Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Brown signs ‘Redskins’ and tobacco bans, vetoes family leave bill 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

California schools will no longer be allowed to use “Redskins” as a mascot or team name under legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday.

But on this year’s deadline to sign bills, Brown vetoed a piece of legislation that sought to block public parks and buildings from being named after Confederate leaders out of similar concern that the practice was demeaning to certain groups.

The bills were among 61 proposals that the governor weighed in on Sunday. The legislation signed by Brown includes a ban on smokeless tobacco at professional baseball games as well as a requirement that ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft better monitor the driving records of those contracted to give rides.

Brown rejected a bill that would have extended family leave by giving employees unpaid time off to care for more family members, such as grandparents, and another bill that would have allowed terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs when all else fails.

Under AB30, authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, public schools have until 2017 to phase out the use of the name “Redskins,” which the legislation calls “racially derogatory” to American Indians.

The law affects four public high schools: Gustine High School in Merced County, Calaveras High School in Calaveras County, Chowchilla Union High School in Madera County and Tulare Union High School in Tulare County.

Aid to schools

While the new law requires the state to provide money to help the schools transition to new names, whether that’s buying new uniforms or replacing signs, the schools aren’t likely to welcome the change.

The Tulare High website reads, “As Redskins, we are a part of a long and proud tradition dating back to 1890.”

The Legislature has tried twice since 2002 to ban Indian-themed mascots but both efforts failed.

SB539, introduced by state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, proposed a ban on naming public property after an elected leader or senior military officer of the Confederacy. But Brown said the legislation reached too far.

“Recently we saw a national movement to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitols in the South — a long overdue action,” Brown wrote in a veto statement. “This bill, however, strikes me as different and an issue quintessentially for local decision makers.”

AB768, written by Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, D-Richmond, cites tobacco use by baseball players as setting a bad example for “impressionable youth” and bans snuff, chewing tobacco and dipping tobacco on the field, effective Dec. 1, 2016.

San Francisco Giants management could not be reached for comment Sunday, but the team has said before that the transition will be tough.

“We’ve talked about this. It’s a step in the right direction, I think,” manager Bruce Bochy, an on-and-off tobacco user, told The Chronicle in May. “It’s something that can be a good thing. It’s going to be hard to enforce. It’s such a tough habit to break.

AB1422 is an effort to boost safety on the road and comes amid increasing popularity of ride-hailing apps. The law will require companies such as Uber, which has had a number of questionable incidents with drivers, to coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles and regularly check driving records of contract drivers.

While earlier this month, the governor signed “right to die” legislation that allows the terminally ill to use prescription drugs to end their lives, Brown vetoed a related “right to try” measure Sunday. The proposal would have allowed terminally ill Californians who have exhausted treatment options to try unapproved medications. Almost 20 states have such laws.

Unpaid leave vetoed

The governor also vetoed a bill that would have allowed people to take unpaid leave to help more family members. California law currently allows employees to take off up to 12 weeks to assist sick children, parents and spouses. SB406, authored by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, would have extended the benefit to care for a grandparent, grandchild, sibling or parents-in-law.

Sunday was the last day to approve or reject bills introduced during this year’s regular legislative session.

Kurtis Alexander and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: kalexander@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander, @SteveRubeSF