Chris Micheli – Page 193 – California Globe

Does a Bill Need Statutory Construction Guidance?

April 22, 2024 3:00 pmApril 22, 2024 3:01 pm

Have you seen the following sentence in a California bill or in a statute: “This act shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.” Why is this phrase needed? Shouldn’t that be obvious guidance to a court when interpreting a...

Frequently Asked Questions about Lobbying Support Services

April 22, 2024 2:30 amApril 22, 2024 2:31 am

What are some lobbying support services? Work to support lobbying efforts can include managing coalitions, directing grassroots campaigns, conducting public outreach, or other indirect efforts to enhance or promote the direct lobbying efforts. What kind of services do either in-house...

Statutes Deferring to Executive Branch

April 21, 2024 3:00 pmApril 21, 2024 3:01 pm

There are times in statutes when the legislative branch of state government grants authority to the executive branch and, at other times, the Legislature restricts the authority of the executive branch. And, on occasion, the Legislature defers to the executive...

Frequently Asked Questions about Legislative History and Intent

April 21, 2024 2:30 amApril 21, 2024 2:31 am

What is legislative history? Legislative history relates to how a bill becomes law, and includes the documents and steps involved in passage of the successful legislation. What is statutory history? Statutory history is usually defined as changes to the language...

When We Have to Wait on IT for New Statutes to Take Effect

April 20, 2024 3:00 pmApril 20, 2024 3:01 pm

We know that sometimes a statute will not take effect unless some other statute or action occurs first. This type of statute contains a “contingent enactment” clause, meaning that its enactment is contingent on that other specified action. In other...

Frequently Asked Questions on California Legislature Conducting Its Work

April 20, 2024 2:30 amApril 20, 2024 2:31 am

Why does the Legislature convene a new session in early December, but designate the new Session as the following two years (e.g., the Session convened on December 5, 2022 and is designated as the 2023-24 Legislative Session)? California’s Constitution, in...

What Information Has to Be on the LegInfo Website?

April 19, 2024 3:00 pmApril 19, 2024 3:01 pm

California Government Code Title 2, Division 2, Part 2, Chapter 1, Article 2 imposes specified duties on the Legislative Counsel. Article 2 was added in 1945 by Chapter 111 and contains Section 10248, whose heading is “Public computer network; required...