SCA 17

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) The California Constitution requires the Legislature to convene in regular session for 2‑year periods at noon on the first Monday in December of each even‑numbered year to consider legislation, including the Budget Bill, and requires that the Budget Bill provide for an annual budget. Existing law also provides that, on extraordinary occasions, the Governor by proclamation may cause the Legislature to assemble in special session to legislate on subjects specified in the proclamation. This measure would instead require the Legislature, on and after December 6, 2010, to convene in annual regular session, with a session held in an odd‑numbered year to be known as a general session when general legislation may be adopted, subject to specified limitations, and a session held in an even‑numbered year to be known as a budget session. The measure would require the Legislature to adopt a 2‑year Budget Bill during each budget session, and would prohibit the Legislature during that session from considering legislation other than the Budget Bill, revenue acts necessary therefor, and acts necessary to provide for the expenses of the session, except that the Legislature could also consider bills that would repeal provisions of existing law during a budget session held in a gubernatorial election year. The measure would limit each annual regular session to not more than 100 calendar days, not including Saturdays and Sundays, except that the session could be reconvened to consider bills vetoed by the Governor. The measure would make various conforming changes relating to annual sessions and the 2‑year budget requirement, including providing for the calculation of the state appropriations limit, the funding of the Budget Stabilization Account, and the calculation of the state school funding obligation on a 2‑year basis. (2) The California Constitution requires the California Citizens Compensation Commission, at or before the end of each fiscal year, to adopt a resolution to adjust the annual salary and the medical, dental, insurance, and similar benefits of elected constitutional officers, as defined, including Members of the Legislature. The annual salary and benefits specified in this resolution become effective on and after the first Monday of the next December without further action by the Legislature. This measure would require the commission to reduce the annual salary of Members of the Legislature in the commission's first resolution following the adoption of this measure by 23, as specified, and would require the commission to apply the existing criteria for adjusting this annual salary to maintain it at 13 of the amount that would otherwise be determined. (3) Existing law provides for travel and living expenses for Members of the Legislature in connection with their official duties to be prescribed by statute passed by rollcall vote entered in the journal, 23 of the membership of each house concurring, with specified limitations. This measure would prohibit a Member of the Legislature from receiving living expenses for more than 100 days in an annual regular session, and would prohibit a Member of the Legislature from receiving living expenses for more than 45 days spent in special sessions in a calendar year.