A bill author can amend his or her bill in two different instances. These are called “author’s amendments” and they can occur before formal committee or floor action, or during those times. The first type of author’s amendment occurs before...
What is the importance of a quorum and how is it established? In the California Legislature, according to the Office of Legislative Counsel, “a quorum must be recorded in order for legislative business to be transacted.” For example, Section 7(a)...
The California Secretary of State (SOS), among numerous other programs that are administered by her office, has a legislative records program According to the SOS, “the Legislative Records Program (LegPro) works closely with the State Legislature to identify and preserve...
What is a “deferral clause”? Basically, a deferral clause is used when one bill “defers” to another bill concerning which provisions will take effect. The following is an example from a recent bill: Any section of any act enacted by...
The California Secretary of State (SOS), among numerous other programs that are administered by her office, has a gubernatorial records program. The SOS maintains the Governor’s Chaptered Bill Files from 1943 to 2018. As explained by the SOS, “the Governor’s...
In reviewing recently-passed legislation that proposes amendments to the California State Lottery Act, as enacted by the voters by Prop. 37 in 1984, the same legislative finding and declaration is made in each bill. It is a simplistic statement that...
With talk of a possible special session beginning on December 5, 2022 when the California Legislature convenes its 2023-24 Regular Session, another question that has been posed is whether the Legislature can be recalled from its current joint recess? The...