Last week, as the California State Assembly wrangled with outstanding questions on what a May 4th return to Sacramento would look like during the current stay-at-home COVID-19 environment, the Assembly Rules Committee referred 300 "spot bills" to their assigned policy committees. This is the first step for a bill in the legislative process before it can receive a public hearing.
“Spot bills” are those measures that were not substantive enough to proceed through the legislative process. They are essentially place-holders. The deadline to provide substantive amendments happened to coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdown of the State Capitol, resulting in these measures not advancing. However, policies and procedures to amend these measures were recently revised by Assembly leadership. The State Senate had continued to amend spot bills during the intervening weeks.
These 300 bills will be officially amended this week and CSDA staff will review them for any impact to special districts. There are many unknows moving forward, as it is also widely accepted that Legislators have been asked by Legislative leadership to truncate their legislative packages in light of the pandemic and the interruption to the normal legislative season.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Legislature has thus far only held special hearings related to the pandemic itself using remote meeting technology coupled with stringent physical distancing practices within the State Capitol. The Assembly is currently planning to fully return May 4th and hold hearings on these and other measures throughout the month. A number of budget hearings and Rules Committee hearings are already scheduled and expected to proceed under new physical distancing protocols. It is unclear at this time if the Senate will follow suit.
Faced with a June 15th deadline to return a balanced budget to the Governor, Legislators await Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revise to the State Budget. It is widely expected the May Revise will reduce expenditures to a “baseline” budget that provides minimum funding to essential state operations and programs, along with COVID-19 emergency allocations. It is also anticipated the Governor will take the extraordinary step of submitting an “August Revise” to the Legislature shortly after the 2020-2021 Budget takes effect. The August Revise would allow the State to make further budget adjustments with the benefit of additional knowledge as to the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s fiscal condition.
Conversations regarding physical distancing procedures, logistics, and safety precautions within the State Capitol for Legislators, staff, lobbyists, and the public-at-large are ongoing. Officials are working to determine the best methods for managing facilities and technology in a manner that facilitates meaningful participation while protecting the health and safety of those who participate.
The Legislature may change its schedule at any time, CSDA will continue to monitor and advocate for special districts. Members should subscribe to Advocacy News for all of the latest updates from the Capitol and can sign up for our new COVID-19 Community to share and receive the latest information related to the pandemic.
#AdvocacyNews#FeatureNews