[4][10] His early involvements also included the American civil rights movement and work in planning and environmental causes, groups and related organizations, the majority of which he represented on a pro bono basis.

[11] He served on the University of California Alumni Council and later as a trustee of the Robert Maynard Hutchins/ Encyclopedia Britannic Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions.

In that regard, he took legislative action to cure regulatory abuse and authored the first "zero-based" budgeting and "Sunset" bills in state history.

The populist/progressive side of him was earmarked by landmark legislation in the areas of political reform, alternative energy, conservation, protection of children & seniors, and promotion of women's rights.

[citation needed] In the Senate while serving as a gubernatorial appointee to the State Geothermal Resources Task Force and the SolarCal Council, Rains sponsored legislation encouraging the development and use of alternative energy sources, such as solar, geothermal, biomass conversion, cogeneration, wind, and developing ocean technologies.

[citation needed] In serving as Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Committee on Legal Equality, Rains comprehensive package of 68 bills allowed the cause of women's rights to advance in California.

"[3][4] As an international attorney, financier and investment advisor Rains has maintained offices in Geneva, Switzerland; Sacramento, California; Lake Tahoe and New York City.

[4][13] Rains served on the University of California Alumni Council and later as a Trustee of the Robert Maynard Hutchins/ Encyclopædia Britannica Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions.

[4][17][18] The University of California has catalogued and archived some of Rains' legislative material and it is now housed in a "Special Collection" for use by academics, historians, students and others.

The collection comprises thousands of documents and files covering 35 linear feet of shelf space and is available for review by interested parties.