Commonly referred to as “2-year bills,” a “carryover bill” is one that is introduced during the first year (the odd-numbered year) of the 2-year California Legislative Session that can be carried over into the second year (the even-numbered year). Article...
In the California Legislature, a bill can be “held” in three distinct ways, which seems rather odd because it would appear that the end result is the same – the bill is not moving forward from the policy or fiscal...
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 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...
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...
Are there really two different types of sections contained in a bill? And are there actually two different types of amendments contained in bills? Yes. Sections Bills contain two different types of “sections” – bill sections and code sections. So,...
On occasion, while reading bills in the California Legislature, you may run across a section of the bill that adds or amends “the heading” of a chapter or title, for example. What is the heading? The heading is the name...