The 2007-08 legislative session convened on December 4th with the newly elected members of the legislature sworn into office at that time. Since then members have been moving into their offices, finding housing in Sacramento, hiring staff for their district and capitol offices and researching legislative proposals.

The proposition’s proponents and many schools and colleges statewide worked diligently to get the word out on the impact this bond would have and were successful in this message. In addition, this election did benefit from a higher than expected voter turnout which many viewed helped pass all of the bonds that appeared on the ballot.

While members are allowed to introduce legislation on the very first day of session they will have until February 23rd to introduce measures for 2007. In the Assembly, members may only introduce 40 bills over the two year cycle, but may introduce measures as they see fit as long it does not exceed the set amount of 40 (for example, they may introduce 20 each year, or they may choose to introduce up to 40 knowing that they will not have new measures in 2008). The Senate, on the other hand, has fewer members and a more collegiate atmosphere and allows members to self police the introduction of their legislation.

Once a measure is introduced, it must sit for thirty days prior to it being allowed to be amended or set for a hearing. Most measures introduced in 2007 will be introduced near or on the deadline and will then only be eligible for their first hearing on March 23rd. Because of this, many measures will be rushed through their policy hearing in order for measures to be allowed to advance by the policy deadline of April 27th (bills with a cost, which includes a great majority of the measures).

For many measures, the fiscal committee hearing, typically Appropriations, will represent the first real hurdle. This committee has the right to hold measures for fiscal reasons without a vote taking place. Measures need to advance out of the fiscal committee by June 1. Those bills that have advanced out of fiscal committee will go to the floor for a full body vote by June 8th and then over to the other house. The budget must be passed by June 15th and signed by the 30th, but these dates are rarely met.

While these measures have all been heard in first house policy and fiscal committees, when the measure is heard in the second house, it will typically receive a more critical review. Measures will again go to a policy hearing, which needs to be completed by July 13 and then the legislature will break for its summer recess for a month on July 20, if a budget has been passed.

After the legislature returns on August 20, fiscal measures must be considered by August 31, and then these measures must be approved by the full second house by September 14, the day the legislature adjourns for its interim recess. The Governor will then have until October 14 to sign or veto measures that were sent to him during the last two weeks of session.

Below is a brief summary of the 2007 legislative key dates:

• Feb. 23 - Last day for bills to be introduced
• Apr. 27 - Last day for policy committees to hear fiscal bills
• Jun. 1 - Last day for fiscal committees to hear and report bills to the floor
• Jun. 8 - Last day to pass bills out of house of origin
• Jun. 15 - Budget Bill must be passed by midnight and signed by the 30th.
• July 13 - Last day for policy committees to hear and report bills
• July 20-Aug 20 - Summer Recess
• Aug. 31 - Last day for fiscal committees to meet and report bills to the Floor
• Sep. 14 - Last day for any bill to be passed
• Oct. 14 - Last day for Governor to sign or veto bills

For more information on these dates please refer to the Assembly’s Chief Clerk’s website.