ACA 25

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing provisions of the California Constitution generally require a bill containing a General Fund appropriation to be passed by a 23 vote of both houses of the Legislature. The Budget Bill and other bills providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill, as defined, are exempt from this requirement and may be passed by a majority vote, to take effect immediately upon being signed by the Governor or upon a date specified in the legislation. This measure would repeal both those provisions exempting the Budget Bill and other bills providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill from the 23-vote requirement, and the provisions specifying that those bills take effect immediately. (2) Existing provisions of the California Constitution prohibit the Legislature from sending to the Governor for consideration, and prohibit the Governor from signing, a Budget Bill that would appropriate from the General Fund a total amount that, when combined with specified appropriations and transfers, exceeds General Fund revenues for that fiscal year estimated as of the date of the Budget Bill's passage. This measure would require that the estimate of General Fund revenues described above be made by the Legislative Analyst. The measure would require the Legislative Analyst, within 3 days after a Budget Bill is submitted to the Governor, to certify whether the Budget Bill meets the above requirement regarding appropriations from the General Fund. The Governor would be prohibited from signing a Budget Bill that the Legislative Analyst certifies as not meeting that requirement unless the Governor reduces or eliminates items of appropriation in the bill and the Legislative Analyst certifies that the bill, as adjusted, meets that requirement. This measure would prohibit either house of the Legislature from adjourning for more than 10 days after sending a Budget Bill to the Governor until the Legislative Analyst has provided the certification described above.