Because It Doesn't Happen Often

Because It Doesn’t Happen Often… By Chris Micheli

The Assembly Committee on Rules recently granted permission for AB 269 (Berman) – public health: COVID 19 testing and dispensing sites – to have its 30-day in print requirement waived. This type of waiver rarely happens, except when exigent circumstances require it.

California Constitution Article IV, Section 8(a) specifies that, at regular sessions, no bill other than the budget bill may be heard or acted on by a committee or either house until the 31st day after the bill is introduced, unless the house dispenses with this requirement by rollcall vote entered in the journal, three fourths of the membership concurring. So, while the state Constitution generally requires a bill to be “in print” and not acted upon for 30 days, there is a process for waiving that requirement.

In addition, Joint Rule 55 imposes the “30-Day Waiting Period.” JR 55 states that this rule may be suspended concurrently with the suspension of the requirement of Section 8 of Article IV of the state Constitution. AB 269 contains an urgency clause and is intended to be enacted before the end of this month.

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