Following several weeks of unscheduled shut-down due to COVID-19, the California State Assembly went back into Session today, with the State Senate slated to return to the Capitol next Monday, May 11th
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Prior to the Legislature’s unscheduled adjournment in mid-March, the deadline for fiscal bills to face their first policy committee hearing was April 24th. With the Assembly now back in Session and the Senateclose behind, that deadline has been waived. But given the limited legislative calendar left to operate –and the State 2020/2021 budget still yet to be hammered out – the Legislature must stay focused onconsidering only those bills they consider of the utmost importance to California’s public. Knowing this,Legislators have been asked to prioritize their bills and pull from consideration any bill that is not critical.
With hearings taking place soon, the dust may be starting to clear on what bills will be heard, but how they will be heard is still very much to be determined. After reviewing constitutional requirements, Senate and Assembly leadership have reportedly reached different conclusions as to how hearings must be held. While Senate leadership is leaning towards voting to be held via a mix of in-person and remote means, Assembly leadership believes any laws passed via remote votes may be open to legal challenge. However, regardless of how careful the Assembly may be to strictly adhere to the Constitution with inperson hearings, their efforts may be rendered moot should the Senate vote remotely – as bills must be approved by both houses to make it to the Governor’s desk.
The requirement on the Assembly side that Legislators vote “in-person” also has some Assembly Members concerned. With some Assembly hearings resuming this week, it will be interesting to see who shows up and who does not. To reduce concerns and minimize risk to both Members and the public, many Assembly hearings will not be held in their traditional hearing rooms, but rather in the much larger Assembly Chambers to allow “social distancing”. Although the Capitol will be open, attendance by the public at these hearings is being highly discouraged. Interested parties are being strongly urged to watch hearings via a live stream on the Assembly’s website, with public that would like to testify being able to do so via a web portal or telephonically. Those who do show up in person will be greeted by nurses and sergeants asking about their health and offering temperature checks. Information regarding a call-in option for testimony will be made available on committee websites closer to the hearing date.
Bills are placed in numerical order, not in order of priority or interest.
This Gaines & Associates “Gaines Report” is client privileged and provided as a service to Gaines & Associates clients.
For more information on any of the below bills, please contact Gaines & Associates at [email protected] 2020 State Legislative Session
To read the full report:
G&A Report – CA State Legislature – 2020 Session Update — 05 04 2020
GAINES & ASSOCIATES
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