California’s Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which is patterned after the federal APA, sets forth the rules by which the state’s executive branch agencies must adopt regulations. The twin goals of the APA are to ensure, for purposes of a proposed...
The Elections Code, absent an amendment, requires the Legislature to place measures on the statewide ballot by this Thursday, June 25. California’s Legislative Counsel defines a constitutional amendment as “a resolution proposing a change to the California Constitution. It...
What business is there to conduct in the California State Capitol during this time of pandemic? The answer is “only committee hearings.” Despite some staff and most legislators working in the Capitol building, at least to participate in legislative hearings,...
As part of the 2020-21 California State budget, where the state’s fiscal year begins July 1, the Legislature passed and Governor Newsom is expected to sign AB 85 (Committee on Budget), which makes numerous tax law changes, including suspension of...
Does California have to adopt a “balanced budget”? The short answer is yes. But there are several interesting aspects to this requirement. Existing provisions of the California Constitution were interpreted to require a balanced budget. For example, Article IV, Section...
On May 27, Assemblyman Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) gutted-and-amended his bill, AB 398, to provide for the “COVID-19 Local Government and School Recovery Relief Act.” The bill would impose a $275 per employee tax (aka a “headcount tax”) on businesses...
Under existing state law, California’s minimum wage will rise to $15 per hour by January 1, 2022 (or 2023 depending on the size of the employer). Each year since 2017, the amount of the minimum wage rises by $1 pursuant...