Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.
Legislature Closes Out 1999 Session by Placing More Than
40 Bills Affecting Community Colleges on Governor Davis' Desk
The Legislature completed its final session of the century on September 10th with a last-minute flurry of bills. After working past midnight on the 9th, the Legislature spent its final day hurriedly shoveling hundreds of bills onto the desk of Governor Davis. Some lawmakers complained that the legislators did too much, too fast in their final day of work. The risk of legislators casting bad votes and people sticking hidden provisions into bills increases significantly during this pressure packed time. Legislators have often complained that the system is not designed to pass so many bills in such a short time, however, they don't seem to learn, as their behavior remains unchanged.
Unlike the previous 16 years, when majority Democrats dealt with Republican Governors, many more of this year's bills will become law. Although Governor Davis has insisted that many bills be watered down to win his approval, he will sign some that his GOP predecessor, Pete Wilson would not.
Included in the hundreds of bills sent to the Governor are approximately 40 bills that affect community colleges. The community college bills on the Governor's desk are highlighted by the following pieces of legislation: AB 420 - Part-time faculty employment and compensation study; AB 655 - student transfer policy; AB 734 - community college financing; SB 154 - economic development program; SB 172 - inspection of personnel files; SB 355 - peace officer training; SB 400 - PERS/state and school member benefits; and, SB 1283 - capital facilities/modernization projects.
Attachment A provides a brief summary of the bills that are currently on the Governor's desk, awaiting his action. The Governor has until October 10th to sign or veto legislation, and bills that contain an urgency clause become effective upon the signature of the Governor, all other bills are effective January 1, 2000.
Future Update articles will identify those bills that are "two-year bills" (legislation introduced in 1999, but which will not be finalized until the 2000 legislative session). Also, after October 10th there will be a comprehensive report of all the legislation signed into law or vetoed by the Governor.
-- Arnold Bray