Chris Micheli

How a Bill Becomes Law - The Basics of the California Legislative Process  By Chris Micheli For those not fully acquainted with the California legislative process, new laws (called statutes) are enacted by the California Legislature as bills (and signed by the Governor to become laws). The Legislature can also amend or repeal existing statutes. Whether a statute is added, amended or repealed, that process must be done by a bill being passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor (unless he or she allows it to become law without a signature). According to the California Legislature, “the process of government by which bills are considered and laws enacted is commonly referred to as the legislative process.” A bill must be approved by both houses of the Legislature before it is sent to the Governor for final action. As a bicameral body, the Legislature is composed of the 80-member Assembly (elected every two years) and the 40-member Senate (elected every four years). The Leg

Following the Legislative Process in California  By Chris Micheli For members of the public, there are numerous avenues to follow the California legislative process. Among the information that is valuable to utilize is that found on the Internet, but there is also Cal Channel to watch hearings and floor sessions. Among the methods that individuals can utilize to following legislation are: Legislative Information website found at www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov -- anyone can review the text of bills, analyses, bill histories, the status of pending bills, votes, etc. And, you can track a bill’s actions by “subscribing” to a bill. Televising the Assembly and Senate -- the Senate (found at http://senate.ca.gov/tvschedule )and Assembly (found at http://assembly.ca.gov/audioandtv )televise all floor sessions and many committee hearings. These can be watched on Cal Channel or on some local cable stations. Assembly Daily File and Senate Daily File contains the Officers of the Assem

How Can You Tell Which Daily File Is for the Special Session?  By Chris Micheli             For both the Assembly Daily File and the Senate Daily File, there are just two distinctions between the regular and special sessions: color and title.             The color of the regular session publications is grey, like a traditional newspaper print. At the top, it says the 2023-24 Regular Session.             The color of the special session publications in blue. At the top, it says the 2023-24 First Extraordinary Session.             The Assembly Daily File for the special session only lists the purposes of the special session, pursuant to the Governor’s proclamation. On the other hand, the Senate Daily File for the special session sets forth the entire gubernatorial proclamation.

2022 Legislative Session Update of Assembly and Senate Letters to the Journals  By Chris Micheli, Principal, Aprea & Micheli, Inc.   One method to help ascertain the legislative intent behind a specified measure is a letter that is published in the Assembly Daily Journal or the Senate Daily Journal by the bill’s author. These letters, for which there are many each year, may be used by the bill’s author to explain an ambiguity in the bill or explain the purpose of particular changes in the law as done by the bill.   The courts in this state can utilize these letters as extrinsic aids in determining the intent of the Legislature. Different versions of the bill, committee and floor analyses, and other items are generally given greater weight than these letters. Nonetheless, a Journal letter may be the best indicator available regarding the intent of the bill’s author and so they should be consulted.   In an effort to assist those conducting legislative history and inten