Using the Correct Reference in California Bills and Statutes

One of the confusing aspects of describing provisions in statutes and in bills is using the correct terminology.

For bills, there are only sections. Section 1 of a bill is always written as SECTION 1. All other remaining sections of a bill are written as SEC. 2. Whether the bill has codified or uncodified language, only sections are used. As a result, when describing the provisions of a bill, a reader will refer to the section number of a bill.

For statutes, all of which fall under one of the 29 Codes, there are sections, subdivisions, paragraphs, and subparagraphs. And, each of these designations uses either a letter or number. The following are the terms associated with their letters or numbers:

Section 1234. – the code section always has a number

Subdivision (a) – the subdivision comes next and uses a lower-case letter in parentheses

Paragraph (1) – the paragraph comes next and uses a number in parentheses

Subparagraph (A) – the subparagraph comes next and uses a capital-letter in parentheses

Subparagraph (i) – the next subparagraph uses a Roman numeral in parentheses

As a result, when describing the provisions of a statute, a reader will refer to the specific provision based upon the section and whether there is a subdivision, paragraph, or even subparagraph. When reading the reference, one would say, for example, Government Code Section 1234(a)(1)(A). However, when Legislative Counsel drafts a statute or amendment to a statute, it will write: subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1234.