California Office of Legislative Counsel

Frequently Asked Questions about Exhausting Administrative Remedies in California

April 8, 2024 2:30 amApril 8, 2024 2:31 am

What does “exhausting administrative remedies” mean? According to California Office of Legislative Counsel, the “exhaustion of remedies” principle is a fundamental concept of administrative law governing the relationship between agencies and courts. Essentially it means that individuals who disagree with...

Are Legislative Findings in Prop. 11 Bills Sufficient?

January 17, 2024 12:23 pmJanuary 17, 2024 12:23 pm

In reviewing recent legislation that proposes amendments to California’s Emergency Ambulance Employee Safety and Preparedness Act, as enacted by the voters by Proposition 11 in November 2018, the same legislative finding and declaration is made in a bill. It is...

Frequently Asked Questions about Gut-and-Amend Bills

January 5, 2024 2:35 amJanuary 5, 2024 2:36 am

What is a “gut-and-amend bill”? According to the California Office of Legislative Counsel, these measures are “when amendments to a bill remove the current contents in their entirety and replace them with different provisions.” What legislative rule is invoked with...

Frequently Asked Questions about the Legislative Counsel’s Digest

December 7, 2023 6:54 amDecember 7, 2023 6:54 am

What is the “Legislative Counsel’s Digest”? According to the Glossary provided by the Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC), the “Digest is prepared by the Legislative Counsel and it summarizes the effect of a proposed bill on current law. It appears...

What Is ‘Digesting’?

October 10, 2023 6:56 amOctober 10, 2023 6:56 am

Have you ever heard the term “digesting” in the California Legislature? This gerund is just one of many responsibilities of the attorneys who work in the California Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC). This gerund comes from the “action” word created...

Saving v. Grandfathering Clauses

January 31, 2023 7:04 amJanuary 31, 2023 7:09 am

What is the difference between a saving clause and a grandfathering clause? They are both types of transitional provisions found in legislation. A saving clause is generally used to retain an existing right or authority that would otherwise be affected...