Frequently Asked Questions about Timing of Appropriations Bills

Frequently Asked Questions about Timing of Appropriations Bills By Chris Micheli

            What are appropriations bills? Appropriations bills, as their name implies, appropriate funds from the General Fund or special funds to a designated entity for a designated purpose.

Can these bills be adopted at any time during the Legislative Session? The answer is no, pursuant to Article IV, Section 12(c)(4) of the California Constitution.

What does our state Constitution say about the timing of appropriations bills? It provides the following: “Until the budget bill has been enacted, the Legislature shall not send to the Governor for consideration any bill appropriating funds for expenditure during the fiscal year for which the budget bill is to be enacted, except emergency bills recommended by the Governor or appropriations for the salaries and expenses of the Legislature.”

What are the two situations where an appropriations bill can be sent to the Governor prior to the enactment of the state budget bill? Only in the cases where the Governor recommends the emergency bill or the bill appropriates monies for the salaries and expenses of the Legislature.

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