Legislature – Page 8 – California Globe

Declarations of Existing Law in California Statutes

January 22, 2022 11:07 amJanuary 22, 2022 8:13 am

In California statutes, readers may come across the following or a similarly-worded phrase: “This section is declaratory of existing law.” What does that mean? Basically, it is an effort by the Legislature to provide retroactive effect to a change in...

Auditing Under California’s Political Reform Act

January 16, 2022 8:40 amJanuary 16, 2022 8:44 am

California’s Political Reform Act contains auditing requirements in Chapter 10 of Title 9, which includes Sections 90000 – 90009. Section 90000 requires the Franchise Tax Board to make audits and field investigations with respect to the following: Reports and statements...

California Election Law – Constitutional Provisions

January 9, 2022 7:53 amJanuary 9, 2022 7:56 am

California’s elections are governed by Article II of the state Constitution, as well as the extensive Elections Code. Article II, which deals with voting, initiatives, referendums, and recall, was amended by Proposition 14 on the June 9, 1976 ballot. Article...

Timing of California Appropriations Bills

January 7, 2022 3:11 pmJanuary 7, 2022 12:02 pm

Appropriations bills, as their name implies, appropriate funds from the General Fund or special funds. Can these bills be adopted at any time during the Legislative Session? This question is addressed in Article IV, Section 12(c)(4) of the California Constitution,...

Constitutional Vote Requirements for the California Legislature

January 7, 2022 6:57 amJanuary 7, 2022 6:59 am

There are a number of provisions contained in the California Constitution that specify certain vote requirements for the Legislature. The following are those provisions of the state Constitution: Article IV, Section 4 – Travel and living expenses for Members of...

When Does the 1-Year ‘Revolving Door’ Ban Begin and End for Those Leaving Government Service?

January 6, 2022 4:18 pmJanuary 6, 2022 4:31 pm

There are rules for those leaving government service, which we refer to as the “revolving door” between the public and private sectors. Article IV, Section 5(e) of the California Constitution provides that “the Legislature shall enact laws that prohibit a...

Some California Constitutional Provisions Can Be Waived

January 6, 2022 3:33 pmJanuary 6, 2022 2:41 pm

When the Legislature initially followed the Governor’s shelter at home order and passed two budget-related bills on March 16, 2020, it required waiver of two constitutional requirements. The first was the required three readings of a bill prior to its...