A Brief Look at the Commission on Uniform State Laws

The Uniform Law Commission (ULC, also called the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws – NCCUSL) is a non-profit, unincorporated association that was established in 1892 and which is charged with providing states with well-researched and drafted legislation to bring clarity and stability to critical areas of statutory law across jurisdictions. The NCCUSL promotes enactment of uniform acts in areas of state law where uniformity is desirable and practical.

The x (CCUSL) was created in 1897 to represent California on the national Uniform Law Commission. Since that time, California has enacted many uniform acts. Those uniform acts are listed below. In 2012, the commission was incorporated into the Office of Legislative Counsel.

The Commission on Uniform State Laws is housed in the Legislative Counsel Bureau. (Section 10270) The Commission consists of one Senator, one Assembly Member, six gubernatorial appointees, the Legislative Counsel, any person elected as life member of the National Conference of USL, and any person who has served as a commissioner for at least five years. (Section 10271)

The commissioners serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities and must participate in the commission activities so long as they do not conflict with their legislative duties. (Section 10271) The commissioners must be State Bar members in good standing, or admitted to practice in another state, or be a judge in California. (Section 10272)

Each commissioner appointed by the Governor holds office for four years. (Section 10273) When a vacancy occurs, the Governor must appoint a person for the balance of the term. (Section 10274) All commissioners are eligible for reappointment. (Section 10275)

Commissioners do not receive compensation for services, but get paid $100 per day while on official commission business, as well as any actual expenses incurred, such as travel. (Section 10276)

Commissioners may participate in the work of the NCCUSL and the Legislative Counsel may cover the commission’s expenses. (Section 10277) The Commission meets at least once every two years in California and the commissioners must elect a member as the chairperson and one as the secretary, who will hold office for two years. (Section 10278)

Commissioners must attend the meetings of the NCCUSL. (Section 10279) It is the duty of the commissioners to promote uniformity in state laws on all subjects where uniformity is deemed to be desirable and practicable. (Section 10280) The commissioners must bring about as practicable the adoption of the different uniform acts recommended by the NCCUSL. It must also put together and recommend additional legislation deemed necessary to accomplish uniformity among the laws. (Section 10281)

The Commission is to report to the Legislature as the Commission deems desirable and practicable. (Section 10282)

                                                         Uniform, Model, and Other Acts
                                                    Promulgated by Uniform Law Commission
                                                                in Effect in California
(as of January 1, 2018)

Uniform, Model, or Other Act	Year	Citation
Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction (2007)	2014	Prob. Code § 1980
Aircraft Financial Responsibility (1954)	1986	Pub. Util. Code § 24230
Anatomical Gift (2006)(2007)	2007	Health & Saf. Code § 7150
Arbitration (1956)	1961	Code Civ. Proc. § 1280
Blood Tests to Determine Paternity (1952)	1953	Fam. Code § 7550
Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement (1997)	1999	Fam. Code § 3400
Commercial Code
Art. 1: General Provisions (2001)	2006	Comm. Code § 1101
Art. 2: Sales (2003)	1963	Comm. Code § 2101
Art. 2A: Leases (1987) (1990)	1988	Comm. Code § 10101
Art. 3: Negotiable Instruments (1990)	1992	Comm. Code § 3101
Art. 4: Bank Deposits and Collections (1990)	1992	Comm. Code § 4101
Art. 4A: Funds Transfers (1989) (2012)	1990	Comm. Code § 11101
Art. 5: Letters of Credit (1995)	1996	Comm. Code § 5101
Art. 6: Bulk Sales (1989)	1990	Comm. Code § 6101
Art. 7: Documents of Title (2003)	2006	Comm. Code § 7101
Art. 8: Investment Securities (1977) (1994)	1996	Comm. Code § 8101
Art. 9: Secured Transactions (1972) (1999) (2010)	1999	Comm. Code § 9101
Controlled Substances (1970) (1974)	1972	Health & Saf. Code § 11000
Criminal Extradition (1936)	1937	Pen. Code § 1547
Determination of Death (1978) (1980)	1982	Health & Saf. Code § 7180
Division of Income for Tax Purposes (1957)(1966)	1966	Rev. & Tax. Code § 25120
Durable Power of Attorney (1979) (1987)	1981	Prob. Code § 4001
Electronic Legal Material (2011)	2012	Gov’t Code § 10290
Electronic Transactions (1999)	1999	Civ. Code § 1633.1
Facsimile Signatures of Public Officials (1958)	1958	Gov’t Code § 5500
Federal Lien Registration (1978) (1982)	1979	Code Civ. Proc. § 2100
Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition (2005)	2007	Code Civ. Proc. § 1713
Foreign Money Claims (1989)	1991	Code Civ. Proc. § 676
Health Care Decisions (1993)	1999	Prob. Code § 4670
International Wills (1977)	1979	Prob. Code § 6380
Interstate Arbitration of Death Taxes (1943)	1949	Rev. & Tax. Code § 13820
Interstate Compromise of Death Taxes (1943)	1949	Rev. & Tax. Code § 13801
Interstate Enforcement of Domestic Violence Protection Orders (2000) (2002)	2001	Fam. Code § 6400
Interstate Family Support (1996) (2001) (2015)	2002	Fam. Code § 5700.101
Limited Liability Company (Revised) (2006)	2012	Corp. Code § 17701.01
Limited Partnership (2001)	2006	Corp. Code § 15900
Military and Overseas Voters (2010)	2012	Elec. Code § 3100
Parentage (1973)	1975	Fam. Code § 7600
Partnership (1994) (1997)	1976	Corp. Code § 16100
Photographic Copies of Business and Public Records as Evidence (1949)	1951	Evid. Code § 1550
Premarital Agreement (1983)	1985	Fam. Code §1600
Principal and Income (1997) (2000) (2008)	1999	Prob. Code § 16320
Prudent Investor (1994)	1995	Prob. Code § 16045
Prudent Management of Institutional Funds (2006)	2008	Prob. Code § 18501
Recognition and Enforcement of Candian Domestic Violence Protection Orders (2015)	2017	Fam. Code § 6450
Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without a State in Criminal Proceedings (1931) (1936)	1937	Pen. Code § 1334
Simultaneous Death (1940/1953) (1991/1993)	1945	Prob. Code § 220
Single Publication (1952)	1955	Civ. Code § 3425.1
Statutory Form Power of Attorney (1988)	1990	Prob. Code § 4400
Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities (1986) (1990)	1991	Prob. Code § 21200
Testamentary Additions to Trusts (1960/1961) (1991)	1965	Prob. Code § 6300
TOD Security Registration (1989) (1998)	1998	Prob. Code § 5500
Trade Secrets (1979) (1985)	1984	Civ. Code § 3426
Transfers to Minors (1983) (1986)	1984	Prob. Code § 3900
Vendor and Purchaser Risk (1935)	1947	Civ. Code § 1662
Voidable Transactions (1984) (2014)	1986	Civ. Code § 3439