In California, there are over 3,200 registered lobbyists with the state. Note that in most large cities in California there are also registration and reporting requirements for those engaged in local government lobbying (i.e., city councils and boards of supervisors)....
What is the difference between a law’s “effective date” and its “operative date”? A common definition of “effective date” is when the new law is “on the books.” A common definition of “operative date” is when the new law becomes...
California’s Constitution, in Article II, Section 10(c) sets forth the authority of the Legislature to change the language of a statutory initiative (i.e., an initiative passed by the voters that added or amended statutory language, rather than a constitutional initiative)....
In County of San Diego v. Commission on State Mandates (2018), the California Supreme Court dealt with the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) which, among other provisions, imposed duties on county governments. The court decision also addressed the California Constitution’s “reenactment...
In County of San Diego v. Commission on State Mandates (2018), the California Supreme Court dealt with the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) which, among other provisions, imposed duties on county governments. For the first 15 years of the SVPA’s existence,...
Code of Civil Procedure Part 2, Title 8 deals with the trial in civil actions. Chapter 4, Article 2 concerns the conduct of the trial. Section 607 provides, when the jury has been sworn, the trial must proceed in the...
What is an “ex post facto” law? This phrase comes from Latin that basically means “after the fact” and its describes when a law is changed retroactively to capture previous conduct and subject that conduct to legal consequences. Ex post...