Dan Hauser Papers, 1981-1996

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Summary

Creators:
Dan Hauser, California Legislator
Abstract:
The Dan Hauser Papers consist of 29 cubic feet of records reflecting Hauser's legislative activities during his 14-year Assembly career. The record series include Bill Files, 1983-1996; Subject Files, 1982-1991; Press Releases, 1986-1991; Chronological Correspondence, 1985-1987; Timber Files, 1981-1991; and Hearing Files, 1985-1990.
Extent:
29 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The Dan Hauser Papers consist of 29 cubic feet of records reflecting Hauser's legislative activities during his 14-year Assembly career. The record series include Bill Files, 1983-1996; Subject Files, 1982-1991; Press Releases, 1986-1991; Chronological Correspondence, 1985-1987; Timber Files, 1981-1991; and Hearing Files, 1985-1990.

Dan Hauser's papers are particularly useful for researchers looking at environmental issues in the 1980s and 1990s. In particular, Hauser's papers show the difficulties of promoting job growth while weighing environmental concerns. Hauser was often caught in the middle of conflicts between the logging and fishing industries and environmental groups along the northern coast of California. Hauser's continued advocacy for rural counties is another strength of the collection. Of particular interest in the bill files series is AB2020 (1987-1988), which would have created the California Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that would have provided affordable health care for all Californians.

Biographical / historical:

Dan Hauser, Democrat, was a California State Assembly Member from 1983-1996. From 1983-1992, his 2nd Assembly District included western Sonoma County, and the counties of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte. District 2 included the following cities: Arcata, Crescent City, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Trinidad, Fort Bragg, Point Arena, Ukiah, Willits, Rohnert Park, Healdsburg, Cotati, and Sebastopol. After redistricting in 1992 his district was renumbered as the First Assembly District. Following redistricting, his District included Arcata, Blue Lake, Clearlake, Cloverdale, Crescent City, Eureka, Ferndale, Fort Bragg, Fortuna, Healdsburg, Lakeport, Point Arena, Rio Dell, Sebastopol, Trinidad, Ukiah, Willits, Windsor, and part of Santa Rosa.

He was born in 1943 in Riverside, California and moved into what would eventually become his assembly district in 1963, when he began attending California State University, Humboldt. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History from that University. Before his election as an assembly member, Hauser worked as an insurance claims investigator. From 1974 to 1982 he was an Arcata City Councilman, including serving four years as mayor. Hauser and his wife Donna have two children.

Hauser was honored with numerous legislative accomplishments including "1984 Legislator of the Year" by the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations, "1984 Coastal Legislator of the Year" by the League of Coastal Protection, and "1988 Legislator of the Year" by the California Aging Network.

Among his legislative accomplishments were the Rural Renaissance Act (the Nielsen-McCorquodale-Hauser Rural Economic Development Act of 1986), the saving of 700 acres of old growth redwood in the "Lost Coast" region of northern Mendocino County, and introduction of legislation to create a statewide health plan for all Californians (AB2020, 1987-1988). Another legislative accomplishment was to provide liability insurance for cities, counties, and other public agencies.

According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), Hauser served on the following committees:

  • Standing and Interim Committees
  • Agriculture, 1987-1990
  • Economic Development and New Technologies, 1983-1988
  • Governmental Organization, 1991-1996
  • Housing and Community Development, 1983-1984, 1987-1996
  • *Chair, 1987-1994
  • Insurance, 1995-1996
  • Local Government, 1983-1990
  • Natural Resources, 1983-1984, 1991-1992
  • *Chair, 1983-1984
  • Transportation, 1993-1996
  • Water, Parks and Wildlife, 1985-1994
  • Subcommittees
  • Subcommittee on Agri-Forestry, 1989-1990
  • *Chair, 1989-1990
  • Subcommittee on Fisheries, 1985-1986
  • *Chair, 1985-1986
  • Subcommittee on Manufactured Housing and Mobilehomes, 1993-1994
  • Subcommittee on Mobilehomes, 1987-1990
  • *Chair, 1989-1990
  • Subcommittee on Rural Economic Development, 1983-1986
  • *Chair, 1983-1986
  • Subcommittee on Timber, 1985-1986
  • *Chair, 1985-1986
  • Select Committees
  • Select Committee on Alcohol and Related Problems, 1985-1986
  • Select Committee on California Wine Production and Economy, 1987-1992, 1995-1996
  • Select Committee on Child Care and Child Abuse, 1989-1990
  • Select Committee on Common Interest Subdivisions, 1983-1984, 1989-1990
  • *Chair, 1989-1990
  • Select Committee on Insurance, 1985-1986
  • Select Committee on Job Development and Economic Productivity, 1983-1986
  • Select Committee on Marine Resources, 1991-1994
  • Select Committee on the Office of the State Board of Equalization, 1991-1992
  • Select Committee on the Office of the State Treasurer, 1987-1990
  • Select Committee on Oil Spill Prevention and Response Preparedness, 1989-1990
  • Special Committees
  • Special Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1995-1996
  • Joint Committees
  • Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification, 1983-1996
  • Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, 1983-1990, 1995-1996
  • *Vice Chair, 1985-1990, 1995-1996
  • Joint Committee on School Facilities, 1989-1994
  • Additional Committees, Commissions, and Boards
  • Social Services Advisory Board, 1983-1984
  • Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force, 1985-1994
  • Western States Legislative Forestry Task Force, 1991-1994
  • State Commission on Economic Development, 1985-1994
  • Wildlife Conservation Board, 1991-1994
Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the Dan Hauser Papers following his final term in the State Legislature.
Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
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