California Government Code – Page 3

A Bill’s ‘Keys’ – What Are They?

November 15, 2019 6:03 amNovember 15, 2019 6:21 am

Each bill in the California Legislature contains certain features such as an enacting clause, a title, the author’s name, a bill number, and the Legislative Counsel’s Digest, among other provisions. At the end of the Legislative Counsel’s Digest is a...

Effective Versus Operative Dates of Statutes

November 13, 2019 6:04 amNovember 12, 2019 7:06 am

There is often confusion regarding effective versus operative dates. Specifically, Capitol observers often inquire when a statute actually “takes effect.” When it takes effect can be different than when the statute is operative. January 1 following the year a bill...

Effective Dates of Statutes in California Legislation

October 7, 2019 6:05 amOctober 6, 2019 8:09 pm

In the California Legislature, legislation that contains an urgency clause takes effect immediately upon the Governor signing the bill and it being chaptered by the Secretary of State. With the exception of measures which take effect immediately, tax levies, and...

California Local Governments Overview

March 1, 2019 6:58 amMarch 1, 2019 7:03 am

The role of local governments in California cannot be overstated. The 58 counties, 482 cities, and over 3,000 special districts (from vector control agencies to local air districts) all play a critical role in making and implementing public policy in...