Copyright© 2006 by School Services of California, Inc.

                                      Volume 19                   For Publication Date: December 15, 2006             No. 26

Assembly Committee Chairs Announced 

The committee chairs for the 2007-08 legislative session have been appointed for the Assembly; Senate committee chairs will be announced shortly after the Legislature returns to the Capitol on January 3, 2007. 

Assembly 

Budget Committee 

Assembly Member John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) returns as Chair of the Budget Committee. This committee has primary responsibility for development of the State Budget. Assembly Member Laird also serves as a member of the Budget Conference Committee. 

Budget Subcommittee #2 on Education Finance 

Newly elected Assembly Member Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) is the new Chair of Budget Subcommittee #2. Brownley replaces Assembly Member Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton) who will be the new Health Committee Chair. This budget subcommittee will review and take action on all budget items related to K-12 and higher education. 

Appropriations Committee 

Assembly Member Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) is the new Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Leno replaces Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), who is no longer in the Assembly due to term limits. 

Higher Education Committee 

Newly elected Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) is the new chair of the Higher Education Committee. Portantino replaces Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) who is no longer in the Assembly due to term limits. This committee is responsible for reviewing all legislation that has an impact on public higher education institutions and issues. 

Assembly Education Committee 

Assembly Member Gene Mullin (D-South San Francisco) is the new chair of the Assembly Education Committee. Mullin replaces Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), who is no longer in the Assembly due to term limits. This committee is responsible for reviewing all legislation that has an impact on K-12 education. 

Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security Committee (P.E.R. & S.S.)  

Assembly Member Ed Hernandez (D-Baldwin Park) is the new Chair of the Assembly P.E.R. & S.S. Committee. Hernandez replaces Assembly Member Alberto Torrico (D-Newark), who is the new Chair of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. This committee is responsible for all legislation dealing with State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) and PERS retirement benefit issues. 

Senate 

The Senate Democratic leadership will formally announce the chairs and membership of committees shortly after they return to Sacramento on January 3, 2007. It is expected that Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) will be named the next Appropriations Committee Chair, a position held last year by termed-out Senator Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles). There will also be new chairs of the Senate Budget Committee and Public Employment and Retirement Committee due to term limits.

It has been confirmed that Senator Jack Scott (D-Altadena) will remain Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Budget Subcommittee #1 on Education Finance.

Finally 

A full roster of Assembly and Senate committees will be made available in January 2007. 

—Arnold Bray