Can a Tax Levy Be in a Non-Tax Bill?
Have you seen a non-tax bill be designated a “tax levy” by the Office of Legislative Counsel? It is rare because in almost all instances a tax levy is for a bill that adds or amends a section to the...
Tag: Office of Legislative Counsel
Introduction to Regulatory Drafting
What is regulatory drafting? Regulatory drafting or regulations drafting is the work done by state executive branch officials in agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and bureaus that have rulemaking authority under the California Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Of course, regulations can...
An Introduction to the California Legislature and the Legislative Process
This general overview of the California legislative process is intended to acquaint those new to the State Capitol with basic information to appreciate different aspects of the process and some of the players in the legislative process. The website of...
Why Legislative Counsel Should Draft All Ballot Measures
I found myself recently discussing initiatives and the common drafting concerns expressed by those who review them. With measures placed on the ballot by the Legislature, the attorneys in the Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC) for the California Legislature draft...
Gavin Newsom’s DNC Rally for Abortion, Big Labor… Oh, and Redistricting
California Governor Gavin Newsom had a DNC-style rally in Los Angeles Thursday, and invited potty mouth leaders of Planned Parenthood, the California Teachers Association, SEIU CA, Senator Adam Schiff, and other Democrat politicians to speak, all praising abortion, big labor,...
Assemblyman DeMaio: Newsom’s Scheme to Redraw Maps is ‘Illegal, Unconstitutional, Unnecessary’
California Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) has written a letter to the Office of Legislative Counsel (below) that outlines the numerous legal and constitutional violations of Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to redraw California’s legislative district maps. Newsom seeks political retribution...
Why Do Some Tax Increase Bills Only Contain an Urgency Clause?
Some have raised the question why a bill that is clearly a tax increase contains an urgency clause and does not mention that it is a tax increase. A bill that would raise taxes and does not contain an urgency...